Kits and primers for diagnosing schizophrenia

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to the identification and selection of novel biomarkers and the identification and selection of novel biomarker combinations which are differentially expressed in blood and useful in diagnosing schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder as well as monitoring therapeutic efficacy of treatment for schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. The measurement of expression levels of the products of the biomarkers and combinations of biomarkers of the invention can be used to diagnose schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder. Measurement of the expression level of products of biomarkers of the invention using polynucleotides and proteins which specifically and/or selectively hybridize to the products of the biomarkers of the invention are also encompassed within the scope of the invention as are compositions and kits containing said polynucleotides and proteins. Further encompassed by the invention is the use of the polynucleotides and proteins to monitor the efficacy of therapeutic regimens. The invention also provides for the identification of methods of using the products of the biomarkers of the invention in the identification of novel therapeutic targets of schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder and a method of screening the genes of said biomarkers for additional markers of disease.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/287,629 filed Oct. 10, 2008, which is a division of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/989,191 filed Nov. 15, 2004, now abandoned,which is a Continuation-in-part of PCT/US2004/020836 filed Jun. 21,2004, and which is a Continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/812,731 filed Mar. 30, 2004, which is a Continuation-in-partof U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/802,875 filed Mar. 30, 2004, nowabandoned .

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the identification and selection of novelbiomarkers and the identification and selection of novel biomarkercombinations which are differentially expressed in individuals withschizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder as well as a means of selectingthe novel biomarker combinations. Further encompassed by the inventionis the use of polynucleotides and/or proteins which specificallyhybridize to the products of the biomarkers of the invention to diagnoseschizophrenia, diagnose bipolar disorder and differentially diagnose asbetween schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Also included in theinvention are kits of said polynucleotides and/or proteins. Theinvention also encompasses screening methods to monitor the efficacy oftherapeutic regimens and identify therapeutic targets for treatingschizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder, as well as providing a means ofidentifying single nucleotide point mutations related to schizophreniaand/or bipolar disorder.

2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Schizophrenia:

Schizophrenia is a debilitating mental disorder characterized primarilyby psychotic symptoms including hallucinations, delusions, disorganizedspeech, thought and behaviour, and difficulty expressing emotion. Thelifetime prevalence of schizophrenia is about 1% of the populationworldwide, with some countries slightly lower and others slightlyhigher. In the United States, roughly 2,500,000 people are affected byit.

Diagnosis of Schizophrenia

Currently diagnosis of schizophrenia relies solely on the analysis of aperson's symptoms. Diagnosis is made from information obtained fromphysicial examination, taking a person's family history and emotionalhistory, as well as a medical evaluation, and a mental statusexamination. Relying on symptomatic history makes diagnosis ofschizophrenia difficult, particularly since no single symptom isdefinitive for diagnosis. Rather, the diagnosis encompasses a pattern ofsigns and symptoms, in conjunction with impaired occupational or socialfunctioning. Currently diagnosis includes looking for delusions (falsebeliefs strongly held in spite of invalidating evidence); visual,auditory, tactile, olfactory or gustatory hallucinations; disorganizedspeech; disorganized thinking; grossly disorganized thinking and/orcatatonic behaviour; negative symptoms, such as emotional deficit,avolition (inability to initiate and persist in goal-directedactivities) and alogia (poverty of speech) are also symptoms ofschizophrenia. Continuous signs of the disturbance must persist for atleast 6 months. This 6-month period must include at least 1 month ofactive-phase symptoms (listed above) (or less if successfully treated)and may include periods of prodromal or residual symptoms. During theseprodromal or residual periods, the signs of the disturbance may bemanifested by only negative symptoms or two or more active-phasesymptoms in an attenuated form (e.g., odd beliefs, unusual perceptualexperiences).

Diagnosis of schizophrenia is made even harder because it is oftendifficult to differentiate schizophrenia from other mental disordersincluding bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, and briefpsychotic disorder. In addition, diagnosis of schizophrenia is oftenconfused with other organic medical conditions (e.g. encephalitis) orsubstance conditions (drugs of abuse, such as amphetamines andphencyclidine, or other medications). Although recently brain imagingtechniques have been utilized as a tool towards diagnosis, this iscostly, is inconvenient to patients, and is not considered veryreliable.

Bipolar Disorder:

Bipolar disorder, (also termed manic-depressive disorder), is a mooddisorder in which people experience alternating episodes of mania andmajor depression. Mania is characterized by elation, irritability,excitability, racing thought and speech, and hyperactivity. Majordepression is characterized by sadness, withdrawal, despair, andsuicidal thoughts. Bipolar disorder affects approximately 3% of peoplein the United States. The age of onset is usually the late teens orearly 20s and there is usually a history of depression. Generally, earlytreatment means better prognosis.

Diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder

Traditional medical diagnostic techniques for diagnosing bipolardisorder include: physical exam and history and mental status exam forpresence of bipolar disorder symptoms which include a combination of atleast one major depressive episode (a depressed mood or a loss ofinterest or pleasure in daily activities consistently for at least a 2week period which represents a change from the person's normal mood;social, occupational, educational or other important functioning mustalso be negatively impaired by the change in mood) and one manic episode(a distinct period of persistently elevated, expansive, or irritablemood, lasting throughout at least 4 days, that is clearly different fromthe usual nondepressed mood). Diagnosis can be difficult because thefirst episode of mania may go undetected, and an episode of depressiondoes not necessarily predict a subsequent manic episode. Most people aresymptom free for months or even years between episodes of depression andmania. In brief, both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are difficultto diagnose due to the complexity of each condition. Moreover, it can bechallenging to clinically distinguish these two conditions because oftheir common clinical characteristics. It often requires a long periodof observation of a patient before the definitive diagnosis can be made.Although there are brain-imaging tests available, they are not specificenough. Recently there has been some advancement in analyzing geneexpression in brain tissue to identify biomarkers of mental disorders,but one cannot translate this into a simple non invasive diagnostictool. Blood-based tests for diagnosis and differential diagnosis ofschizophrenia and bipolar disorder would help speed up the diagnosticprocess and ensure an early administration of the correct therapy. Thisis particularly important since there are effective therapies availableto manage both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and early treatmentin many cases means better prognosis and decreases chances of recurrenceof future acute episodes.

Thus there is a need for a simple non-invasive diagnostic test fordiagnosing an individual as having either schizophrenia or bipolardisorder.

3. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the identification and selection of novelbiomarkers and the identification and selection of novel biomarkercombinations which are differentially expressed in blood and useful indiagnosing schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder as well as monitoringtherapeutic efficacy of treatment for schizophrenia and/or bipolardisorder. The measurement of expression levels of the products of thebiomarkers and combinations of biomarkers of the invention can be usedto diagnose schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder. Measurement of theexpression level of products of biomarkers of the invention usingpolynucleotides and proteins which specifically and/or selectivelyhybridize to the products of the biomarkers of the invention are alsoencompassed within the scope of the invention as are compositions andkits containing said polynucleotides and proteins. Further encompassedby the invention is the use of the polynucleotides and proteins tomonitor the efficacy of therapeutic regimens. The invention alsoprovides for the identification of methods of using the biomarkers ofthe invention in the identification of novel therapeutic targets ofschizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder and a method of screening thegenes of said biomarkers for additional markers of disease.

4. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects and features of the invention can be better understood withreference to the following detailed description and drawings.

FIG. 1 is a figure showing, in one embodiment of the invention, p valuesrepresenting the differential expression for each of the biomarkers ofthe invention when comparing subpopulations of individuals as follows:(a) schizophrenia v. non schizophrenia (control) (b) bipolar disorder(bpd) v. non bipolar disorder (control) and (c) schizophrenia v. bipolardisorder.

FIG. 2 is a table showing, in one embodiment of the invention, SNPswhich have been identified in the biomarkers of the invention

FIG. 3 is a table showing, in one embodiment of the invention, variousselections of two biomarkers of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a table showing, in one embodiment of the invention, variousselections of three biomarkers of the invention.

FIG. 5 is an example of a number of classifiers generated for use indifferentiating as between schizophrenia and normal (non schizophrenia)with an ROC of >0.9.

FIG. 6 is an is an example of a number of classifiers generated for usein differentiating as between bipolar disorder and normal (non bipolardisorder) with an ROC of >0.9.

FIG. 7 is an is an example of a number of classifiers generated for usein differentiating as between bipolar disorder and schizophrenia with anROC of >0.9.

5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the identification and selection from blood ofgenes which are differentially expressed as between individuals withschizophrenia and normal individuals; individuals with bipolar disorderand normal individuals; and as between individuals with schizophreniaand individuals with bipolar disorder. As such the invention encompassespolynucleotides and polypeptides which can be used to detect and monitordifferential gene expression of the biomarker and biomarker combinationsfor both diagnosis of schizophrenia and diagnosis of bipolar disorder aswell as to allow the monitoring of potential therapeutic treatments forboth schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The invention furtherencompasses a method of identifying particularly useful combinations ofbiomarkers. In addition the invention encompasses use of the biomarkersof the invention to screen for therapeutic targets for schizophrenia andbipolar disorder and identifies single nucleotide polymorphisms withinthe genes of the invention which can be monitored to determineadditional means of diagnosing schizophrenia or bipolar disorder inindividuals.

5.1 Definitions

The practice of the present invention will employ, unless otherwiseindicated, conventional techniques of molecular biology, microbiologyand recombinant DNA techniques, which are within the skill of the art.Such techniques are explained fully in the literature. See, e.g.,Sambrook, Fritsch & Maniatis, 1989, Molecular Cloning: A LaboratoryManual, Second Edition; Oligonucleotide Synthesis (M. J. Gait, ed.,1984); Nucleic Acid Hybridization (B. D. Harnes & S. J. Higgins, eds.,1984); A Practical Guide to Molecular Cloning (B. Perbal, 1984); and aseries, Methods in Enzymology (Academic Press, Inc.); Short Protocols InMolecular Biology, (Ausubel et al., ed., 1995). All patents, patentapplications, and publications mentioned herein, both supra and infra,are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

The following definitions are provided for specific terms which are usedin the following written description. As used herein, the “5′ end”refers to the end of an mRNA up to the first 1000 nucleotides or ⅓ ofthe mRNA(where the fill length of the mRNA does not include the poly Atail), starting at the first nucleotide of the mRNA. The “5′ region” ofa gene refers to a polynucleotide (double-stranded or single-stranded)located within or at the 5′ end of a gene, and includes, but is notlimited to, the 5′ untranslated region, if that is present, and the 5′protein coding region of a gene. The 5′ region is not shorter than 8nucleotides in length and not longer than 1000 nucleotides in length.Other possible lengths of the 5′ region include but are not limited to10, 20, 25, 50, 100, 200, 400, and 500 nucleotides.

As used herein, the “3′ end” refers to the end of an mRNA up to the last1000 nucleotides or ⅓ of the mRNA, where the 3′ terminal nucleotide isthat terminal nucleotide of the coding or untranslated region thatadjoins the poly-A tail, if one is present. That is, the 3′ end of anmRNA does not include the poly-A tail, if one is present. The “3′region” of a gene refers to a polynucleotide (double-stranded orsingle-stranded) located within or at the 3′ end of a gene, andincludes, but is not limited to, the 3′ untranslated region, if that ispresent, and the 3′ protein coding region of a gene. The 3′ region isnot shorter than 8 nucleotides in length and not longer than 1000nucleotides in length. Other possible lengths of the 3′ region includebut are not limited to 10, 20, 25, 50, 100, 200, 400, and 500nucleotides. As used herein, the “internal coding region” of a generefers to a polynucleotide (double-stranded or single-stranded) locatedbetween the 5′ region and the 3′ region of a gene as defined herein. The“internal coding region” is not shorter than 8 nucleotides in length andnot longer than 1000 nucleotides in length. Other possible lengths ofthe “internal coding region” include but are not limited to 10, 20, 25,50, 100, 200, 400, and 500 nucleotides. The 5′, 3′ and internal regionsare non-overlapping and may, but need not be contiguous, and may, butneed not, add up to the full length of the corresponding gene.

As used herein, the “amino terminal” region of a polypeptide refers tothe polypeptide sequences encoded by polynucleotide sequences(double-stranded or single-stranded) located within or at the 5′ end ofa gene, and includes, but is not limited to, the 5′ protein codingregion of a gene. As used herein, the “amino terminal” region refers tothe amino terminal end of a polypeptide up to the first 300 amino acidsor ⅓ of the polypeptide, starting at the first amino acid of thepolypeptide. The “amino terminal” region of a polypeptide is not shorterthan 3 amino acids in length and not longer than 350 amino acids inlength. Other possible lengths of the “amino terminal” region of apolypeptide include but are not limited to 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, 100 and200 amino acids.

As used herein, the “carboxy terminal” region of a polypeptide refers tothe polypeptide sequences encoded by polynucleotide sequences(double-stranded or single-stranded) located within or at the 3′ end ofa gene, and includes, but is not limited to, the 3′ protein codingregion of a gene. As used herein, the “carboxy terminal” region refersto the carboxy terminal end of a polypeptide up to 300 amino acids or ⅓of the polypeptide from the last amino acid of the polypeptide. The “3′end” does not include the polyA tail, if one is present. The “carboxyterminal” region of a polypeptide is not shorter than 3 amino acids inlength and not longer than 350 amino acids in length. Other possiblelengths of the “carboxy terminal” region of a polypeptide include, butare not limited to, 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, 100 and 200 amino acids.

As used herein, the “internal polypeptide region” of a polypeptiderefers to the polypeptide sequences located between the amino terminalregion and the carboxy terminal region of a polypeptide, as definedherein. The “internal polypeptide region” of a polypeptide is notshorter than 3 amino acids in length and not longer than 350 amino acidsin length. Other possible lengths of the “internal polypeptide region”of a polypeptide include, but are not limited to, 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, 100and 200 amino acids. The amino terminal, carboxy terminal and internalpolypeptide regions of a polypeptide are non-overlapping and may, butneed not be contiguous, and may, but need not, add up to the full lengthof the corresponding polypeptide.

As used herein, the term “amplified”, when applied to a nucleic acidsequence, refers to a process whereby one or more copies of a particularnucleic acid sequence is generated from a template nucleic acid,preferably by the method of polymerase chain reaction (Mullis andFaloona, 1987, Methods Enzymol., 155:335). “Polymerase chain reaction”or “PCR” refers to an in vitro method for amplifying a specific nucleicacid template sequence. The PCR reaction involves a repetitive series oftemperature cycles and is typically performed in a volume of 50-100 □l.The reaction mix comprises dNTPs (each of the four deoxynucleotidesdATP, dCTP, dGTP, and dTTP), primers, buffers, DNA polymerase, andnucleic acid template. The PCR reaction comprises providing a set ofpolynucleotide primers wherein a first primer contains a sequencecomplementary to a region in one strand of the nucleic acid templatesequence and primes the synthesis of a complementary DNA strand, and asecond primer contains a sequence complementary to a region in a secondstrand of the target nucleic acid sequence and primes the synthesis of acomplementary DNA strand, and amplifying the nucleic acid templatesequence employing a nucleic acid polymerase as a template-dependentpolymerizing agent under conditions which are permissive for PCR cyclingsteps of (i) annealing of primers required for amplification to a targetnucleic acid sequence contained within the template sequence, (ii)extending the primers wherein the nucleic acid polymerase synthesizes aprimer extension product. “A set of polynucleotide primers” or “a set ofPCR primers” can comprise two, three, four or more primers. In oneembodiment, an exo-Pfu DNA polymerase is used to amplify a nucleic acidtemplate in PCR reaction. Other methods of amplification include, butare not limited to, ligase chain reaction (LCR), polynucleotide-specificbased amplification (NSBA), or any other method known in the art.

According to the invention, an “array” contemplates a specific set ofgenes immobilized to a support, or a set of corresponding 5′ ends or aset of corresponding 3′ ends or a set of corresponding internal codingregions. Of course, mixtures of a 5′ end of one gene may be used as atarget or a probe in combination with a 3′ end of another gene toachieve the same result of schizophrenia or bipoloar disorder diagnosis.

As used herein, the term “analog” in the context of proteinaceous agent(e.g., proteins, polypeptides, peptides, and antibodies) refers to aproteinaceous agent that possesses a similar or identical function as asecond proteinaceous agent but does not necessarily comprise a similaror identical amino acid sequence of the second proteinaceous agent, orpossess a similar or identical structure of the second proteinaceousagent. A proteinaceous agent that has a similar amino acid sequencerefers to a second proteinaceous agent that satisfies at least one ofthe following: (a) a proteinaceous agent having an amino acid sequencethat is at least 30%, at least 35%, at least 40%, at least 45%, at least50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95% or at least99% identical to the amino acid sequence of a second proteinaceousagent; (b) a proteinaceous agent encoded by a nucleotide sequence thathybridizes under stringent conditions to a nucleotide sequence encodinga second proteinaceous agent of at least 5 contiguous amino acidresidues, at least 10 contiguous amino acid residues, at least 15contiguous amino acid residues, at least 20 contiguous amino acidresidues, at least 25 contiguous amino acid residues, at least 40contiguous amino acid residues, at least 50 contiguous amino acidresidues, at least 60 contiguous amino residues, at least 70 contiguousamino acid residues, at least 80 contiguous amino acid residues, atleast 90 contiguous amino acid residues, at least 100 contiguous aminoacid residues, at least 125 contiguous amino acid residues, or at least150 contiguous amino acid residues; and (c) a proteinaceous agentencoded by a nucleotide sequence that is at least 30%, at least 35%, atleast 40%, at least 45%, at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, atleast 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, atleast 90%, at least 95% or at least 99% identical to the nucleotidesequence encoding a second proteinaceous agent. A proteinaceous agentwith similar structure to a second proteinaceous agent refers to aproteinaceous agent that has a similar secondary, tertiary or quaternarystructure to the second proteinaceous agent. The structure of aproteinaceous agent can be determined by methods known to those skilledin the art, including but not limited to, peptide sequencing, X-raycrystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance, circular dichroism, andcrystallographic electron microscopy.

To determine the percent identity of two amino acid sequences or of twonucleic acid sequences, the sequences are aligned for optimal comparisonpurposes (e.g., gaps can be introduced in the sequence of a first aminoacid or nucleic acid sequence for optimal alignment with a second aminoacid or nucleic acid sequence). The amino acid residues or nucleotidesat corresponding amino acid positions or nucleotide positions are thencompared. When a position in the first sequence is occupied by the sameamino acid residue or nucleotide as the corresponding position in thesecond sequence, then the molecules are identical at that position. Thepercent identity between the two sequences is a function of the numberof identical positions shared by the sequences (i.e., % identity=numberof identical overlapping positions/total number ofpositions.times.100%). In one embodiment, the two sequences are the samelength.

The determination of percent identity between two sequences can also beaccomplished using a mathematical algorithm. A preferred, non-limitingexample of a mathematical algorithm utilized for the comparison of twosequences is the algorithm of Karlin and Altschul, 1990, Proc. Natl.Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 87:2264-2268, modified as in Karlin and Altschul,1993, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 90:5873-5877. Such an algorithm isincorporated into the NBLAST and XBLAST programs of Altschul et al.,1990, J. Mol. Biol. 215:403. BLAST nucleotide searches can be performedwith the NBLAST nucleotide program parameters set, e.g., for score=100,wordlength=12 to obtain nucleotide sequences homologous to a nucleicacid molecules of the present invention. BLAST protein searches can beperformed with the XBLAST program parameters set, e.g., to score-50,wordlength=3 to obtain amino acid sequences homologous to a proteinmolecule of the present invention. To obtain gapped alignments forcomparison purposes, Gapped BLAST can be utilized as described inAltschul et al., 1997, Nucleic Acids Res. 25:3389-3402. Alternatively,PSI-BLAST can be used to perform an iterated search which detectsdistant relationships between molecules (Id.). When utilizing BLAST,Gapped BLAST, and PSI-Blast programs, the default parameters of therespective programs (e.g., of XBLAST and NBLAST) can be used (see, e.g.,the NCBI website). Another preferred, non-limiting example of amathematical algorithm utilized for the comparison of sequences is thealgorithm of Myers and Miller, 1988, CABIOS 4:11-17. Such an algorithmis incorporated in the ALIGN program (version 2.0) which is part of theGCG sequence alignment software package. When utilizing the ALIGNprogram for comparing amino acid sequences, a PAM120 weight residuetable, a gap length penalty of 12, and a gap penalty of 4 can be used.

The percent identity between two sequences can be determined usingtechniques similar to those described above, with or without allowinggaps. In calculating percent identity, typically only exact matches arecounted.

As used herein, the term “analog” in the context of a non-proteinaceousanalog refers to a second organic or inorganic molecule which possess asimilar or identical function as a first organic or inorganic moleculeand is structurally similar to the first organic or inorganic molecule.The term “analog” includes a molecule whose core structure is the sameas, or closely resembles that of the first molecule, but which has achemical or physical modification. the term “analog” includes copolymersof the first molecule that can be linked to other atoms or molecules. A“biologically active analog” and “anolog” are used interchangeablyherein to cover an organic or inorganic molecule that exhibitssubstantially the same agonist or antagonist effect of the first organicor inorganic molecule.

A “nucleotide analog”, as used herein, refers to a nucleotide in whichthe pentose sugar and/or one or more of the phosphate esters is replacedwith its respective analog. Exemplary phosphate ester analogs include,but are not limited to, alkylphosphonates, methylphosphonates,phosphoramidates, phosphotriesters, phosphorothioates,phosphorodithioates, phosphoroselenoates, phosphorodiselenoates,phosphoroanilothioates, phosphoroanilidates, phosphoroamidates,boronophosphates, etc., including any associated counterions, ifpresent. Also included within the definition of “nucleotide analog” arenucleobase monomers which can be polymerized into polynucleotide analogsin which the DNA/RNA phosphate ester and/or sugar phosphate esterbackbone is replaced with a different type of linkage. Further includedwithin “nucleotide analogs” are nucleotides in which the nucleobasemoiety is non-conventional, i.e., differs from one of G, A, T, U or C.Generally a non-conventional nucleobase will have the capacity to formhydrogen bonds with at least one nucleobase moiety present on anadjacent counter-directional polynucleotide strand or provide anon-interacting, non-interfering base.

The term “antibody” also encompasses antigen-binding fragments of anantibody. The term “antigen-binding fragment” of an antibody (or simply“antibody portion,” or “fragment”), as used herein, refers to one ormore fragments of a full-length antibody that retain the ability tospecifically bind to a polypeptide encoded by one of the genes of abiomarker of the invention. Examples of binding fragments encompassedwithin the term “antigen-binding fragment” of an antibody include (i) aFab fragment, a monovalent fragment consisting of the VL, VH, CL and CH1domains; (ii) a F(ab′)₂ fragment, a bivalent fragment comprising two Fabfragments linked by a disulfide bridge at the hinge region; (iii) a Fdfragment consisting of the VH and CH1 domains; (iv) a Fv fragmentconsisting of the VL and VH domains of a single arm of an antibody, (v)a dAb fragment (Ward et al., (1989) Nature 341:544-546), which consistsof a VH domain; and (vi) an isolated complementarity determining region(CDR). Furthermore, although the two domains of the Fv fragment, VL andVH, are coded for by separate genes, they can be joined, usingrecombinant methods, by a synthetic linker that enables them to be madeas a single protein chain in which the VL and VH regions pair to formmonovalent molecules (known as single chain Fv (scFv); see e.g., Bird etal. (1988) Science 242:423-426; and Huston et al. (1988) Proc. Natl.Acad. Sci. USA 85:5879-5883). Such single chain antibodies are alsointended to be encompassed within the term “antigen-binding fragment” ofan antibody. These antibody fragments are obtained using conventionaltechniques known to those with skill in the art, and the fragments arescreened for utility in the same manner as are intact antibodies. Theantibody is preferably monospecific, e.g., a monoclonal antibody, orantigen-binding fragment thereof. The term “monospecific antibody”refers to an antibody that displays a single binding specificity andaffinity for a particular target, e.g., epitope. This term includes a“monoclonal antibody” or “monoclonal antibody composition,” which asused herein refer to a preparation of antibodies or fragments thereof ofsingle molecular composition.

As used herein, the terms “attaching” and “spotting” refer to a processof depositing a nucleic acid onto a substrate to form a nucleic acidarray such that the nucleic acid is stably bound to the substrate viacovalent bonds, hydrogen bonds or ionic interactions.

As used herein, the term “biomarker” refers to a gene that isdifferentially regulated as between individuals with (a) schizophreniaand normal individuals (individuals without schizophrenia) (b) bipolardisorder and normal individuals (individuals without bipolar disorder)and (c) schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

As used herein, a “blood nucleic acid sample”, refers to nucleic acidsderived from blood and can include nucleic acids derived from wholeblood, centrifuged lysed blood, serum free whole blood or peripheralblood leukocytes (PBLs). By whole blood is meant unseparated wholeblood, for example, a drop of whole blood. By centrifuged lysed blood or‘lysed blood’ is meant whole blood that is mixed with lysis buffer andcentrifuged as described herein (see Example 2). By serum free blood ismeant whole blood wherein the serum or plasma is removed bycentrifugation as described herein (see Example 2). Preferably, a bloodnucleic acid sample is whole blood or centrifuged lysed blood and istotal RNA, mRNA or is a nucleic acid corresponding to mRNA, for example,cDNA derived from mRNA isolated from said blood. A nucleic acid samplecan also include a PCR product derived from total RNA, mRNA or cDNA.

As used herein, the term “brain cells” includes those cells found in thebrain and include neurons, and glial cells, including Schwann's Cells,Satellite Cells, Microglia cels, Oligodendroglia cells, and Astrogliacells and all cell lines thereof.

As used herein, the term ‘centrifuged’ refers to the centrifugation ofserum free whole blood or lysed blood at 2000 rpm (800 g) for 5 minutesat 4° C.

As used herein, the term “classifier” is used to describe the output ofa mathematical model generated on its ability to differentiate betweentwo or more phenotypic traits—for example having or not havingschizophrenia, having or not having bipolar disorder and either havingschizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

As used herein, the terms “compound” and “agent” are usedinterchangably.

As used herein, “consisting essentially of” refers to the maximum numberof genes that are required for the use of a biomarker to diagnoseschizophrenia or bipolar disorder. In one embodiment, a biomarker forthe diagnosis of schizophrenia consists essentially of at least 2, 3, 4,5, 6, 7, or all of the biomarkers of the invention. In anotherembodiment, a biomarker for the diagnosis of bipolar disorder consistsessentially of at least 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or all of the biomarkers ofthe invention. In another embodiment, a biomarker for differentiatingbetween schizophrenia and bipolar disorder consists essentially of atleast 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or all of the biomarkers of the invention. Inanother embodiment, a biomarker for diagnosis of schizophrenia consistsessentially of any one of the biomarkers in Table 3. In anotherembodiment, a biomarker for diagnosis of bipolar disorder consistsessentially of any one of the biomarkers in Table 4. In anotherembodiment, a biomarker for differentiating between schizophrenia andbipolar disorder consists essentially of any one of the Biomarkers inTable 5.

As used herein, the term “control” or “control sample” in the context ofthis invention refers to one or more tissue nucleic acid samples and/ora blood nucleic acid samples isolated from an individual or group ofindividuals who are either classified as having schizophrenia, havingbipolar disorder or not having schizophrenia or bipolar disorder wherethe diagnosis for the “control” or “control sample” has been confirmed.The term control or control sample can also refer to the compilation ofdata derived from samples of one or more individuals whose diagnosis hasbeen confirmed as normal (not having schizophrenia or bipolar disorder)or one or more individuals whose diagnosis has been confirmed as havingschizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

A “coding region” refers to a DNA sequence encoding mRNA.

As used herein, the terms “compound” and “agent” are usedinterchangably. As used herein, the term “derivative” in the context ofproteinaceous agent (e.g., proteins, polypeptides, peptides, andantibodies) refers to a proteinaceous agent that comprises an amino acidsequence which has been altered by the introduction of amino acidresidue substitutions, deletions, and/or additions. The term“derivative” as used herein also refers to a proteinaceous agent whichhas been modified, i.e., by the covalent attachment of any type ofmolecule to the proteinaceous agent. For example, but not by way oflimitation, an antibody may be modified, e.g., by glycosylation,acetylation, pegylation, phosphorylation, amidation, derivatization byknown protecting/blocking groups, proteolytic cleavage, linkage to acellular ligand or other protein, etc. A derivative of a proteinaceousagent may be produced by chemical modifications using techniques knownto those of skill in the art, including, but not limited to specificchemical cleavage, acetylation, formylation, metabolic synthesis oftunicamycin, etc. Further, a derivative of a proteinaceous agent maycontain one or more non-classical amino acids. A derivative of aproteinaceous agent possesses a similar or identical function as theproteinaceous agent from which it was derived.

As used herein, the term “derivative” in the context of anon-proteinaceous derivative refers to a second organic or inorganicmolecule that is formed based upon the structure of a first organic orinorganic molecule. A derivative of an organic molecule includes, but isnot limited to, a molecule modified, e.g., by the addition or deletionof a hydroxyl, methyl, ethyl, carboxyl or amine group. An organicmolecule may also be esterified, alkylated and/or phosphorylated.

As used herein, “diagnosis” refers to a process of determining if anindividual is afflicted with a disease or ailment. “Diagnosis ofschizophrenia” or “schizophrenia diagnosis” refers to a process ofdetermining if an individual is afflicted with schizophrenia andincludes both traditional medical diagnostic techniques for diagnosingschizophrenia, as well as diagnostic methods as encompassed by theinvention. In one embodiment, diagnosis of schizophrenia using methodsas encompassed by the invention includes determining whether a personhas schizophrenia or does not have schizophrenia. In another embodiment,diagnosis of schizophrenia includes determining whether a person hasschizophrenia or bipolar disorder. “Diagnosis of bipolar disorder” or“bipolar disorder diagnosis” refers to a process of determining if anindividual is afflicted with bipolar disorder and includes bothtraditional medical diagnostic techniques for diagnosing bipolardisorder, as well as diagnostic methods as encompassed by the invention.In one embodiment, diagnosis of bipolar disorder using methods asencompassed by the invention includes determining whether a person hasbipolar disorder or does not have bipolar disorder. In anotherembodiment, diagnosis includes determining whether a person has bipolardisorder or schizophrenia. Traditional medical diagnostic techniques fordiagnosing schizophrenia include: physical exam and history, medicalevaluation, and a mental status exam and appropriate laboratory testswhich can include an MRI. The diagnosis often encompasses a pattern ofsigns and symptoms, in conjunction with impaired occupational or socialfunctioning. Currently diagnosis includes looking for delusions (falsebeliefs strongly held in spite of invalidating evidence); visual,auditory, tactile, olfactory or gustatory hallucinations; disorganizedspeech; disorganized thinking; grossly disorganized thinking and/orcatatonic behaviour; negative symptoms, such as emotional deficit,avolition (inability to initiate and persist in goal-directedactivities) and alogia (poverty of speech) are also symptoms ofschizophrenia. Traditional medical diagnostic techniques for diagnosingbipolar disorder include: physical exam and history and mental statusexam for presence of bipolar disorder symptoms which include acombination of at least one major depressive episode (a depressed moodor a loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities consistently forat least a 2 week period which represents a change from the person'snormal mood; social, occupational, educational or other importantfunctioning must also be negatively impaired by the change in mood) andone manic episode (a distinct period of persistently elevated,expansive, or irritable mood, lasting throughout at least 4 days, thatis clearly different from the usual nondepressed mood). In a specificembodiment, “diagnosis of schizophrenia” refers to a determination asbetween two options: e.g. that an individual has schizophrenia or thatan individual does not have schizophrenia; or e.g. that an individualhas schizophrenia or that an individual has bipolar disorder; or e.g.than an individual has bipolar disorder or does not have bipolardisorder. In another embodiment, “diagnosis” can also refer to adetermination as between three options e.g. an individual has bipolardisorder, an individual has schizophrenia or an individual has neither.In another embodiment diagnosis can include an option that it cannot bedetermined with sufficient degree of certainty as to whether anindividual can be characterized as having schizophrenia, having bipolardisorder or having either. As would be understood by a person skilled inthe art, in this context a “sufficient degree of certainty” depends uponthe medical requirements for both the sensitivity and specificity of thediagnosis. More particularly the sufficient degree of certainly includesgreater than 50% sensitivity and/or specificity, greater than 60%sensitivity and/or specificity, greater than 70% sensitivity and/orspecificity, greater than 80% sensitivity and/or specificity, greaterthan 90% sensitivity and/or specificity and 100% sensitivity and/orspecificity. Note that diagnosis can also refer to the results of aseries of individual diagnosis so as to make an ultimate diagnosis (e.g.a first diagnosis to determine whether an individual has schizophreniaor does not have schizophrenia and second test to determine whether saidindividual has schizophrenia or is bipolar where the results of bothtests lead to a diagnosis of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder).

As used herein, “normal” in the context of a conventional diagnosisrefers to an individual or group of individuals who have not shown anysymptoms of either schizophrenia or bipolar disorder and are not knownto have either schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Preferably said normalindividual(s) is not on medication affecting schizophrenia or bipolardisorder. More preferably said normal individual(s) is not on medicationaffecting mental health. If possible said individual or group ofindividuals has not been diagnosed with any other disease. It is alsohelpful if the normal individuals have similar sex, and age as comparedwith the test individuals. “Normal”, according to the invention, alsorefers to a samples isolated from normal individuals and includes blood,total RNA or mRNA isolated from normal individuals. A sample taken froma normal individual can include RNA isolated from a blood sample whereinsaid blood sample is whole blood, lysed blood, centrifuged lysed bloodor peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs), and wherein the blood is from anindividual who has not been diagnosed with either schizophrenia orbipolar disorder and does not show any symptoms of schizophrenia orbipolar disorder at the time the blood is isolated.

As used herein, the term “differential expression” refers to adifference in the level of expression of the RNA of one or morebiomarkers of the invention, as measured by the amount or level mRNA,and/or one or more spliced variants of mRNA of the biomarker in onesample as compared with the level of expression of the same one or morebiomarkers of the invention in a second sample. “Differentiallyexpressed” can also include a measurement of the protein encoded by thebiomarker of the invention in a sample or population of samples ascompared with the amount or level of protein expression in a secondsample or population of samples. Differential expression can bedetermined as described herein and as would be understood by a personskilled in the art. The term “differentially expressed” or “changes inthe level of expression” refers to an increase or decrease in themeasurable expression level of a given biomarker as measured by theamount of RNA and/or the amount of protein in a sample as compared withthe measurable expression level of a given biomarker a second sample.The term “differentially expressed” or “changes in the level ofexpression” can also refer to an increase or decrease in the measurableexpression level of a given biomarker in a population of samples ascompared with the measurable expression level of a biomarker in a secondpopulation of samples. As used herein, “differentially expressed” can bemeasured using the ratio of the level of expression of a givenbiomarker(s) as compared with the mean expression level of the givenbiomarker(s) of a control wherein the ratio is not equal to 1.0.Differentially expressed can also be measured using p-value. When usingp-value, a biomarker is identified as being differentially expressed asbetween a first and second population when the p-value is less than 0.1.More preferably the p-value is less than 0.05. Even more preferably thep-value is less than 0.01. More preferably still the p-value is lessthan 0.005. Most preferably the p-value is less than 0.001. Whendetermining differentially expression on the basis of the ratio, an RNAor protein is differentially expressed if the ratio of the level ofexpression in a first sample as compared with a second sample is greaterthan or less than 1.0. For example, a ratio of greater than 1.2, 1.5,1.7, 2, 3, 4, 10, 20 or a ratio less than 1, for example 0.8, 0.6, 0.4,0.2, 0.1. 0.05. In another embodiment of the invention a nucleic acidtranscript is differentially expressed if the ratio of the mean of thelevel of expression of a first population as compared with the meanlevel of expression of the second population is greater than or lessthan 1.0 For example, a ratio of greater than 1.2, 1.5, 1.7, 2, 3, 4,10, 20 or a ratio less than 1, for example 0.8, 0.6, 0.4, 0.2, 0.1.0.05. In another embodiment of the invention a nucleic acid transcriptis differentially expressed if the ratio of its level of expression in afirst sample as compared with the mean of the second population isgreater than or less than 1.0 and includes for example, a ratio ofgreater than 1.2, 1.5, 1.7, 2, 3, 4, 10, 20, or a ratio less than 1, forexample 0.8, 0.6, 0.4, 0.2, 0.1. 0.05.

“Differentially increased expression” or “up regulation” refers to geneswhich demonstrate at least 10% or more, for example, 20%, 30%, 40%, or50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% or more or 1.1 fold, 1.2 fold, 1.4 fold, 1.6fold, 1.8 fold, or more increase in gene expression (as measured by RNAexpression or protein expression), relative to a control.

“Differentially decreased expression” or “down regulation” refers togenes which demonstrate at least 10% or more, for example, 20%, 30%,40%, or 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% or a less than 1.0 fold, 0.8 fold, 0.6fold, 0.4 fold, 0.2 fold, 0.1 fold or less decrease in gene expression(as measured by RNA expression or protein expression), relative to acontrol. For example, up regulated genes includes genes having anincreased level of expression of mRNA or protein in blood isolated fromindividuals characterized as having schizophrenia as compared withexpression of mRNA or protein isolated from normal individuals. Forexample, down regulated genes includes genes having a decreased level ofexpression in blood isolated from individuals characterized as havingschizophrenia as compared with blood isolated from normal individuals.As used herein, the term “differential hybridization” refers to adifference in the quantitative level of hybridization of a nucleic acidsample from a first individual or individuals with a trait to acomplementary nucleic acid target as compared with the hybridization ofa nucleic acid sample from a second individual or individuals not havingsaid trait to the same complementary nucleic acid target. A“differential hybridization” means that the ratio of the level ofhybridization of the first sample as compared with the second sample isnot equal to 1.0. For example, the ratio of the level of hybridizationof the first sample to the target as compared to the second sample isgreater than or less than 1.0, and includes greater than 1.5 and lessthan 0.7, greater than 2 and less than 0.5. A differential hybridizationalso exists if the hybridization is detectable in one sample but notanother sample.

As used herein, the term “drug efficacy” refers to the effectiveness ofa drug. “Drug efficacy” is usually measured by the clinical response ofthe patient who has been or is being treated with a drug. A drug isconsidered to have a high degree of efficacy, if it achieves desiredclinical results, for example, the alteration of gene expression and thegene expression pattern reflective of schizophrenia or bipolar disorderas described herein. The amount of drug absorbed may be used to predicta patient's response. A general rule is that as the dose of a drug isincreased, a greater effect is seen in the patient until a maximumdesired effect is reached. If more drug is administered after themaximum point is reached, the side effects will normally increase.

As used herein, the term “effective amount” refers to the amount of acompound which is sufficient to reduce or ameliorate the progression,severity and/or duration of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, orschizophrenic episodes/bipolar episodes or one or more symptoms thereof,prevent the development, recurrence or onset of schizophrenia and/orbipolar disorder or one or more symptoms thereof, prevent theadvancement of schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder or one or moresymptoms thereof, or enhance or improve the prophylactic or therapeuticeffect(s) of another therapy.

As used herein, the term “fragment” in the context of a proteinaceousagent refers to a peptide or polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence of at least 5 contiguous amino acid residues, at least 10contiguous amino acid residues, at least 15 contiguous amino acidresidues, at least 20 contiguous amino acid residues, at least 25contiguous amino acid residues, at least 40 contiguous amino acidresidues, at least 50 contiguous amino acid residues, at least 60contiguous amino residues, at least 70 contiguous amino acid residues,at least contiguous 80 amino acid residues, at least contiguous 90 aminoacid residues, at least contiguous 100 amino acid residues, at leastcontiguous 125 amino acid residues, at least 150 contiguous amino acidresidues, at least contiguous 175 amino acid residues, at leastcontiguous 200 amino acid residues, or at least contiguous 250 aminoacid residues of the amino acid sequence of another polypeptide or aprotein. In a specific embodiment, a fragment of a protein orpolypeptide retains at least one function of the protein or polypeptide.In another embodiment, a fragment of a protein or polypeptide retains atleast two, three, four, or five functions of the protein or polypeptide.Preferably, a fragment of an antibody retains the ability toimmunospecifically bind to an antigen.

As used herein, the term “fusion protein” refers to a polypeptide thatcomprises an amino acid sequence of a first protein or polypeptide orfunctional fragment, analog or derivative thereof, and an amino acidsequence of a heterologous protein, polypeptide, or peptide (i.e., asecond protein or polypeptide or fragment, analog or derivative thereofdifferent than the first protein or fragment, analog or derivativethereof). In one embodiment, a fusion protein comprises a prophylacticor therapeutic agent fused to a heterologous protein, polypeptide orpeptide. In accordance with this embodiment, the heterologous protein,polypeptide or peptide may or may not be a different type ofprophylactic or therapeutic agent.

As used herein, a “gene expression pattern” or “gene expression profile”indicates the combined pattern of the results of the analysis of thelevel of expression of two or more biomarkers of the invention including3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or all of the biomarkers of theinvention. A gene expression pattern or gene expression profile canresult from the measurement of expression of the products of thebiomarkers of the invention and can be done using any known technique.For example techniques to measure expression of the RNA products of thebiomarkers of the invention includes, PCR based methods (includingRT-PCR) and non PCR based method as well as microarray analysis. Tomeasure protein products of the biomarkers of the invention, techniquesinclude western blotting and ELISA analysis.

As used herein, the term “hybridizing to” or “hybridization” refers tothe sequence specific non-covalent binding interactions with acomplementary nucleic acid, for exampleinteractions between a targetnucleic acid sequence and a nucleic acid member on an array.

As used herein, the term “immunoglobulin” refers to a protein consistingof one or more polypeptides substantially encoded by immunoglobulingenes. The recognized human immunoglobulin genes include the kappa,lambda, alpha (IgA1 and IgA2), gamma (IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4), delta,epsilon and mu constant region genes, as well as the myriadimmunoglobulin variable region genes. Full-length immunoglobulin “lightchains” (about 25 Kd or 214 amino acids) are encoded by a variableregion gene at the NH2-terminus (about 110 amino acids) and a kappa orlambda constant region gene at the COOH-terminus. Full-lengthimmunoglobulin “heavy chains” (about 50 Kd or 446 amino acids), aresimilarly encoded by a variable region gene (about 116 amino acids) andone of the other aforementioned constant region genes, e.g., gamma(encoding about 330 amino acids).

As used herein, the term “in combination” when referring to therapeutictreatments refers to the use of more than one type of therapy (e.g.,more than one prophylactic agent and/or therapeutic agent). The use ofthe term “in combination” does not restrict the order in which therapies(e.g., prophylactic and/or therapeutic agents) are administered to asubject. A first therapy (e.g., a first prophylactic or therapeuticagent) can be administered prior to (e.g., 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 30minutes, 45 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours, 24hours, 48 hours, 72 hours, 96 hours, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks,5 weeks, 6 weeks, 8 weeks, or 12 weeks before), concomitantly with, orsubsequent to (e.g., 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 1hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours,96 hours, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks, 5 weeks, 6 weeks, 8 weeks,or 12 weeks after) the administration of a second therapy (e.g., asecond prophylactic or therapeutic agent) to a subject.

As used herein, “indicative of disease” when referring to an expressionpattern indicates an expression pattern which is diagnostic of diseasesuch that the expression pattern is found significantly more often inpatients with a disease than in patients without the disease (asdetermined using routine statistical methods setting confidence levelsat a minimum of 95%). Preferably, an expression pattern which isindicative of disease is found in at least 70%, at least 75%, at least80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95% or more in patients whohave the disease and is found in less than 10%, less than 8%, less than5%, less than 2.5%, or less than 1% of patients who do not have thedisease. “Indicative of disease” also indicates an expression patternwhich is diagnostic of disease such that the expression pattern moreproperly categorizes with control expression patterns of individualswith disease as compared with control expression patterns of individualswithout disease using statistical algorithms for class prediction aswould be understood by a person skilled in the art and see for examplecommercially available programs such as those provided by SiliconGenetics (e.g. GeneSpring™)

As used herein, “isolated” or “purified” when used in reference to anucleic acid means that a naturally occurring sequence has been removedfrom its normal cellular (e.g., chromosomal) environment or issynthesized in a non-natural environment (e.g., artificiallysynthesized). Thus, an “isolated” or “purified” sequence may be in acell-free solution or placed in a different cellular environment. Theterm “purified” does not imply that the sequence is the only nucleotidepresent, but that it is essentially free (about 90-95% pure) ofnon-nucleotide material naturally associated with it, and thus isdistinguished from isolated chromosomes.

As used herein, the terms “isolated” and “purified” in the context of aproteinaceous agent (e.g., a peptide, polypeptide, protein or antibody)refer to a proteinaceous agent which is substantially free of cellularmaterial and in some embodiments, substantially free of heterologousproteinaceous agents (i.e., contaminating proteins) from the cell ortissue source from which it is derived, or substantially free ofchemical precursors or other chemicals when chemically synthesized. Thelanguage “substantially free of cellular material” includes preparationsof a proteinaceous agent in which the proteinaceous agent is separatedfrom cellular components of the cells from which it is isolated orrecombinantly produced. Thus, a proteinaceous agent that issubstantially free of cellular material includes preparations of aproteinaceous agent having less than about 30%, 20%, 10%, or 5% (by dryweight) of heterologous proteinaceous agent (e.g., protein, polypeptide,peptide, or antibody; also referred to as a “contaminating protein”).When the proteinaceous agent is recombinantly produced, it is alsopreferably substantially free of culture medium, i.e., culture mediumrepresents less than about 20%, 10%, or 5% of the volume of the proteinpreparation. When the proteinaceous agent is produced by chemicalsynthesis, it is preferably substantially free of chemical precursors orother chemicals, i.e., it is separated from chemical precursors or otherchemicals which are involved in the synthesis of the proteinaceousagent. Accordingly, such preparations of a proteinaceous agent have lessthan about 30%, 20%, 10%, 5% (by dry weight) of chemical precursors orcompounds other than the proteinaceous agent of interest. Preferably,proteinaceous agents disclosed herein are isolated.

As used herein, the term “level of expression” when referring to RNArefers to the measurable quantity of a given nucleic acid as determinedby hybridization or measurements such as real-time RT PCR, whichincludes use of both SYBR® green and TaqMan® technology and whichcorresponds in direct proportion with the extent to which the gene isexpressed. The level of expression of a nucleic acid is determined bymethods well known in the art. For microarray analysis, the level ofexpression is measured by hybridization analysis using labeled nucleicacids corresponding to RNA isolated from one or more individualsaccording to methods well known in the art. The label on the nucleicacid used for hybridization can be a luminescent label, an enzymaticlabel, a radioactive label, a chemical label or a physical label.Preferably, target nucleic acids are labeled with a fluorescentmolecule. Preferred fluorescent labels include, but are not limited to:fluorescein, amino coumarin acetic acid, tetramethylrhodamineisothiocyanate (TRITC), Texas Red, Cyanine 3 (Cy3) and Cyanine 5 (Cy5).

As used herein, a “ligand” is a molecule that specifically binds to apolypeptide encoded by one of the genes of a biomarker of the invention.A ligand can be a nucleic acid (RNA or DNA), polypeptide, peptide orchemical compound. A ligand of the invention can be a peptide ligand,e.g., a scaffold peptide, a linear peptide, or a cyclic peptide. In apreferred embodiment, the polypeptide ligand is an antibody. Theantibody can be a human antibody, a chimeric antibody, a recombinantantibody, a humanized antibody, a monoclonal antibody, or a polyclonalantibody. The antibody can be an intact immunoglobulin, e.g., an IgA,IgG, IgE, IgD, IgM or subtypes thereof. The antibody can be conjugatedto a functional moiety (e.g., a compound which has a biological orchemical function (which may be a second different polypeptide, atherapeutic drug, a cytotoxic agent, a detectable moiety, or a support.A polypeptide ligand e.g. antibody of the invention interacts with apolypeptide, encoded by one of the genes of a biomarker, with highaffinity and specificity. For example, the polypeptide ligand binds to apolypeptide, encoded by one of the genes of a biomarker, with anaffinity constant of at least 107 M⁻¹, preferably, at least 10⁸ M⁻¹, 10⁹M⁻¹, or 10¹⁰ M⁻¹.

An “mRNA” means an RNA complementary to a gene; an mRNA includes aprotein coding region and also may include 5′ end and 3′ untranslatedregions (UTR).

As used herein, the term “majority” refers to a number representing morethan 50% (e.g., 51%, 60%, or 70%, or 80% or 90% or up to 100%) of thetotal members of a composition. The term “majority”, when referring toan array, it means more than 50% (e.g., 51%, 60%, or 70%, or 80% or 90%or up to 100%) of the total nucleic acid members that are stablyassociated with the solid substrate of the array.

As used herein, the terms “manage”, “managing” and “management” refer tothe beneficial effects that a subject derives from a therapy (e.g., aprophylactic or therapeutic agent) which does not result in a cure ofschizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder. In certain embodiments, a subjectis administered one or more therapies to “manage” schizophrenia and/orbipolar disorder so as to ameliorate symptoms of schizophrenia and/orbipolar disorder, and/or to prevent and/or retard the progression ofthese diseases and or symptoms of these diseases.

Amelioration of schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder is defined hereinas providing physical or physiological relief to individuals and caninclude relief of symptoms as well as a decrease in episode number orepisode duration. Treatment of schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder isdefined herein to provide medical aid to counteract the disease itself,the symptoms and or episodes of the disease (either in number orduration) and/or the progression of the disease. These treatments may begiven as palliative therapy to help relieve symptoms and improve thequality of life.

As used herein, “mRNA integrity” refers to the quality of mRNA extractsfrom either tissue samples or blood samples. mRNA extracts with goodintegrity do not appear to be degraded when examined by methods wellknown in the art, for example, by RNA agarose gel electrophoresis (e.g.,Ausubel et al., John Weley & Sons, Inc., 1997, Current Protocols inMolecular Biology). Preferably, the mRNA samples have good integrity(e.g., less than 10%, preferably less than 5%, and more preferably lessthan 1% of the mRNA is degraded) to truly represent the gene expressionlevels of the tissue or blood samples from which they are extracted.

As used herein, the terms “non-responsive” and refractory” describepatients treated with a currently available therapy (e.g., prophylacticor therapeutic agent) for schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder, whichis not clinically adequate to relieve one or more symptoms associatedtherewith. Typically, such patients suffer from severe, persistentlyactive schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder and require additionaltherapy to ameliorate the symptoms associated with their disease.

As used herein, “nucleic acid(s)” is interchangeable with the term“polynucleotide(s)” and it generally refers to any polyribonucleotide orpoly-deoxyribonucleotide, which may be unmodified RNA or DNA or modifiedRNA or DNA or any combination thereof. “Nucleic acids” include, withoutlimitation, single- and double-stranded nucleic acids. As used herein,the term “nucleic acid(s)” also includes DNAs or RNAs as described abovethat contain one or more modified bases. Thus, DNAs or RNAs withbackbones modified for stability or for other reasons are “nucleicacids”. The term “nucleic acids” as it is used herein embraces suchchemically, enzymatically or metabolically modified forms of nucleicacids, as well as the chemical forms of DNA and RNA characteristic ofviruses and cells, including for example, simple and complex cells. A“nucleic acid” or “nucleic acid sequence” may also include regions ofsingle- or double-stranded RNA or DNA or any combinations thereof andcan include expressed sequence tags (ESTs) according to some embodimentsof the invention. An EST is a portion of the expressed sequence of agene (i.e., the “tag” of a sequence), made by reverse transcribing aregion of mRNA so as to make cDNA.

As defined herein, a “nucleic acid array” refers a plurality of nucleicacids (or “nucleic acid members”) attached to a support where each ofthe nucleic acid members is attached to a support in a uniquepre-selected region. In one embodiment, the nucleic acid member attachedto the surface of the support is DNA. In a preferred embodiment, thenucleic acid member attached to the surface of the support is eithercDNA or oligonucleotides. In another preferred embodiment, the nucleicacid member attached to the surface of the support is cDNA synthesizedby polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The term “nucleic acid”, as usedherein, is interchangeable with the term “polynucleotide”. In anotherpreferred embodiment, a “nucleic acid array” refers to a plurality ofunique nucleic acids attached to nitrocellulose or other membranes usedin Southern and/or Northern blotting techniques.

As used herein “nucleic acid sample for hybridization to an array” isdefined as a nucleic acid capable of binding to a nucleic acid bound toan array of complementary sequence through sets of non-covalent bondinginteractions including complementary base pairing interactions. Thenucleic acid sample for hybridization to an array can either be anisolated nucleic acid sequence corresponding to a gene or portionthereof, total RNA or mRNA isolated from a sample. Preferably, thenucleic acid sample for hybridization to an array is derived from humanblood (including whole blood, lysed blood, centrifuged lysed blood, orperipheral blood leukocytes (PBLs)). More preferably, the nucleic acidsample is single- or double-stranded DNA, RNA, or DNA-RNA hybrids, fromhuman blood and preferably from RNA or mRNA extracts.

As used herein, a “nucleic acid member on an array” or a “nucleic acidmember” includes nucleic acid immobilized on an array and capable ofbinding to a nucleic acid probes or samples of complementary sequencethrough sets of non-covalent bonding interactions, includingcomplementary base pairing interactions. As used herein, a nucleic acidmember or target may include natural (i.e., A, G, C, or T) or modifiedbases (7-deazaguanosine, inosine, etc.). In addition, the bases innucleic acids may be joined by a linkage other than a phosphodiesterbond, so long as it does not interfere with hybridization (i.e., thenucleic acid target still specifically binds to its complementarysequence under standard stringent or selective hybridizationconditions). Thus, nucleic acid members may be peptide nucleic acids inwhich the constituent bases are joined by peptide bonds rather thanphosphodiester linkages. In one embodiment, a conventional nucleic acidarray of ‘target’ sequences bound to the array can be representative ofthe entire human genome, e.g. Affymetrix chip, and the biomarker orisolated biomarker consisting of or comprising two or more of the 3genes described in FIG. 1 or gene probes is applied to the conventionalarray. In another embodiment, sequences bound to the array can be thebiomarker or isolated biomarker according to the invention and totalcellular RNA is applied to the array.

As used herein, the term “oligonucleotide” is defined as a moleculecomprised of two or more deoxyribonucleotides and/or ribonucleotides,and preferably more than three. Its exact size will depend upon manyfactors which, in turn, depend upon the ultimate function and use of theoligonucleotide. The oligonucleotides may be from about 8 to about 1,000nucleotides long. Although oligonucleotides of 8 to 100 nucleotides areuseful in the invention, preferred oligonucleotides range from about 8to about 15 bases in length, from about 8 to about 20 bases in length,from about 8 to about 25 bases in length, from about 8 to about 30 basesin length, from about 8 to about 40 bases in length or from about 8 toabout 50 bases in length.

As used herein, “patient” or “individual” refers to a mammal who isdiagnosed with schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder.

As used herein, the phrase “pharmaceutically acceptable salt(s),”includes, but is not limited to, salts of acidic or basic groups thatmay be present in compounds identified using the methods of the presentinvention. Compounds that are basic in nature are capable of forming awide variety of salts with various inorganic and organic acids. Theacids that can be used to prepare pharmaceutically acceptable acidaddition salts of such basic compounds are those that form non-toxicacid addition salts, i.e., salts containing pharmacologically acceptableanions, including but not limited to sulfuric, citric, maleic, acetic,oxalic, hydrochloride, hydrobromide, hydroiodide, nitrate, sulfate,bisulfate, phosphate, acid phosphate, isonicotinate, acetate, lactate,salicylate, citrate, acid citrate, tartrate, oleate, tannate,pantothenate, bitartrate, ascorbate, succinate, maleate, gentisinate,fumarate, gluconate, glucaronate, saccharate, formate, benzoate,glutamate, methanesulfonate, ethanesulfonate, benzenesulfonate,p-toluenesulfonate and pamoate (i.e.,1,1′-methylene-bis-(2-hydroxy-3-naphthoate)) salts. Compounds thatinclude an amino moiety may form pharmaceutically acceptable salts withvarious amino acids, in addition to the acids mentioned above. Compoundsthat are acidic in nature are capable of forming base salts with variouspharmacologically acceptable cations. Examples of such salts includealkali metal or alkaline earth metal salts and, particularly, calcium,magnesium, sodium lithium, zinc, potassium, and iron salts.

As used herein, “polynucleotide” encompasses double-stranded DNA,single-stranded DNA and double-stranded or single-stranded RNA of morethan 8 nucleotides in length. The term “polynucleotide” includes apolymeric form of nucleotides of any length, either ribonucleotides ordeoxyribonucleotides, that comprise purine and pyrimidine bases, orother natural, chemically or biochemically modified, non-natural, orderivatized nucleotide bases. The backbone of the polynucleotide cancomprise sugars and phosphate groups, as may typically be found in RNAor DNA, or modified or substituted sugar or phosphate groups. Apolynucleotide may comprise modified nucleotides, such as methylatednucleotides and nucleotide analogs. The sequence of nucleotides may beinterrupted by non-nucleotide components.

As used herein, “polypeptide sequences encoded by” refers to the aminoacid sequences obtained after translation of the protein coding regionof a gene, as defined herein. The mRNA nucleotide sequence for each ofthe genes of the invention is identified by its Genbank Accession number(see Table 2) and the corresponding polypeptide sequence is identifiedby a Protein Accession number (see Table 2) The Genbank Accessionnumbers identified in Table 2 provides the location of the 5′ UTR,protein coding region (CDS) and 3′ UTR within the mRNA nucleotidesequence of each of the genes of the invention. When a protein orfragment of a protein is used to immunize a host animal, numerousregions of the protein may induce the production of antibodies whichbind specifically to a given region or three-dimensional structure onthe protein; these regions or structures are referred to as epitopes orantigenic determinants. As used herein, “antigenic fragments” refersportions of a polypeptide that contains one or more epitopes. Epitopescan be linear, comprising essentially a linear sequence from theantigen, or conformational, comprising sequences which are geneticallyseparated by other sequences but come together structurally at thebinding site for the polypeptide ligand. “Antigenic fragments” may be5000, 1000, 500, 400, 300, 200, 100, 50 or 25 or 20 or 10 or 5 aminoacids in length.

As used herein, the terms “prevent”, “preventing” and “prevention” referto the prevention of the development, recurrence or onset ofschizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder or one or more symptoms and/orepisodes thereof resulting from the administration of one or morecompounds identified in accordance the methods of the invention or theadministration of a combination of such a compound and another therapy.

The term, “primer”, as used herein refers to an oligonucleotide, whetheroccurring naturally as in a purified restriction digest or producedsynthetically, which is capable of acting as a point of initiation ofsynthesis when placed under conditions in which synthesis of a primerextension product, which is complementary to a nucleic acid strand, isinduced, i.e., in the presence of nucleotides and an inducing agent suchas a DNA polymerase and at a suitable temperature and pH. The primer maybe either single-stranded or double-stranded and must be sufficientlylong to prime the synthesis of the desired extension product in thepresence of the inducing agent. The exact length of the primer willdepend upon many factors, including temperature, source of primer andthe method used. For example, for diagnostic applications, depending onthe complexity of the target sequence, the oligonucleotide primertypically contains 15-25 or more nucleotides, although it may containfewer nucleotides. The factors involved in determining the appropriatelength of primer are readily known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

As used herein, the term “probe” means oligonucleotides and analogsthereof and refers to a range of chemical species that recognizepolynucleotide target sequences through hydrogen bonding interactionswith the nucleotide bases of the target sequences. The probe or thetarget sequences may be single- or double-stranded RNA or single- ordouble-stranded DNA or a combination of DNA and RNA bases. A probe is atleast 8 nucleotides in length and less than the length of a completegene. A probe may be 10, 20, 30, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200, 250, 400, 500and up to 2000 nucleotides in length as long as it is less than the fulllength of the target gene. Probes can include oligonucleotides modifiedso as to have a tag which is detectable by fluorescence,chemiluminescence and the like. The probe can also be modified so as tohave both a detectable tag and a quencher molecule, for example Taqman®and Molecular Beacon® probes.

The oligonucleotides and analogs thereof may be RNA or DNA, or analogsof RNA or DNA, commonly referred to as antisense oligomers or antisenseoligonucleotides. Such RNA or DNA analogs comprise but are not limitedto 2-′O-alkyl sugar modifications, methylphosphonate, phosphorothioate,phosphorodithioate, formacetal, 3′-thioformacetal, sulfone, sulfamate,and nitroxide backbone modifications, and analogs wherein the basemoieties have been modified. In addition, analogs of oligomers may bepolymers in which the sugar moiety has been modified or replaced byanother suitable moiety, resulting in polymers which include, but arenot limited to, morpholino analogs and peptide nucleic acid (PNA)analogs (Egholm, et al. Peptide Nucleic Acids (PNA)—OligonucleotideAnalogues with an Achiral Peptide Backbone, (1992)).

Probes may also be mixtures of any of the oligonucleotide analog typestogether or in combination with native DNA or RNA. At the same time, theoligonucleotides and analogs thereof may be used alone or in combinationwith one or more additional oligonucleotides or analogs thereof.

As used herein, “a plurality of” or “a set of” refers to more than two,for example, 3 or more, 4 or more, 5 or more, 6 or more, 7 or more, 8 ormore, 9 or more 10 or more etc.

As used herein, “pre-selected region”, “predefined region”, or “uniqueposition” refers to a localized area on a substrate which is, was, or isintended to be used for the deposit of a nucleic acid and is otherwisereferred to herein in the alternative as a “selected region” or simply a“region.” The pre-selected region may have any convenient shape, e.g.,circular, rectangular, elliptical, wedge-shaped, etc. In someembodiments, a pre-selected region is smaller than about 1 cm², morepreferably less than 1 mm², still more preferably less than 0.5 mm², andin some embodiments less than 0.1 mm². A nucleic acid member at a“pre-selected region”, “predefined region”, or “unique position” is onewhose identity (e.g., sequence) can be determined by virtue of itsposition at the region or unique position.

As used herein the term “product of the biomarker” or “products of thebiomarkers of the invention” refers to the RNA and/or the proteinexpressed by the gene corresponding to the biomarker of the invention.In the case of RNA it refers to the RNA transcripts transcribed fromgenes corresponding to the biomarker of the invention. In the case ofprotein it refers to proteins translated from the genes corresponding tothe biomarker of the invention. The “RNA product of a biomarker of theinvention” includes mRNA transcripts, and/or specific spliced variantsof mRNA whose measure of expression can be used as a biomarker inaccordance with the teachings disclosed herein. The “protein product ofa biomarker of the invention” includes proteins translated from the RNAproducts of the biomarkers of the invention.

As used herein, the terms “prophylactic agent” and “prophylactic agents”refer to any compound(s) which can be used in the prevention ofschizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder. In certain embodiments, the term“prophylactic agent” refers to a compound identified in the screeningassays described herein. In certain other embodiments, the term“prophylactic agent” refers to an agent other than a compound identifiedin the screening assays described herein which is known to be usefulfor, or has been or is currently being used to prevent or impede theonset, development and/or progression of schizophrenia and/or bipolardisorder or one or more symptoms and/or episodes thereof.

As used herein, the phrase “prophylactically effective amount” refers tothe amount of a therapy (e.g., a prophylactic agent) which is sufficientto result in the prevention of the development, recurrence or onset orprogression of schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder or one or moresymptoms and/or episodes thereof.

As used herein, the terms “protein” and “polypeptide” are usedinterchangeably to refer to a chain of amino acids linked together bypeptide bonds. In a specific embodiment, a protein is composed of lessthan 200, less than 175, less than 150, less than 125, less than 100,less than 50, less than 45, less than 40, less than 35, less than 30,less than 25, less than 20, less than 15, less than 10, or less than 5amino acids linked together by peptide bonds. In another embodiment, aprotein is composed of at least 200, at least 250, at least 300, atleast 350, at least 400, at least 450, at least 500 or more amino acidslinked together by peptide bonds.

A “protein coding region” refers to the portion of the mRNA encoding apolypeptide.

As used herein the “reference population” or “test population” refers apopulation of “control samples” used to develop the classifier todifferentiate between (a) schizophrenic and normal individuals; (b)bipolar disorder individuals and normal individuals or (c) schizophrenicindividuals and bipolar disorder individuals. The “reference population”or “test population” is comprised of a number of control samplesdepending upon the classifier to be constructed and can include thefollowing: (a) individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia usingconventional diagnostic techniques, (b) individuals diagnosed withbipolar disorder using conventional techniques and (c) individualshaving neither bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. In a preferredembodiment the “reference population” or “test population” is comprisedof an equal number of “control samples” from each phenotypic subgroup(e.g. wherein said phenotype is a determination of status with regardsto schizophrenia or bipolar disorder). In another embodiment, the“reference population” is also matched for other phenotypes e.g. age,sex, drug status, etc.

As used herein, the term “selectively binds” in the context of proteinsencompassed by the invention refers to the specific interaction of a anytwo of a peptide, a protein, a polypeptide an antibody, wherein theinteraction preferentially occurs as between any two of a peptide,protein, polypeptide and antibody preferentially as compared with anyother peptide, protein, polypeptide and antibody. For example, when thetwo molecules are protein molecules, a structure on the first moleculerecognizes and binds to a structure on the second molecule, rather thanto other proteins. “Selective binding”, “Selective binding”, as the termis used herein, means that a molecule binds its specific binding partnerwith at least 2-fold greater affinity, and preferably at least 10-fold,20-fold, 50-fold, 100-fold or higher affinity than it binds anon-specific molecule.

As used herein “selective hybridization” in the context of thisinvention refers to a hybridization which occurs as between apolynucleotide encompassed by the invention and an RNA or proteinproduct of the biomarker of the invention wherein the hybridization issuch that the polynucleotide binds to the RNA products of the biomarkerof the invention preferentially to the RNA products of other genes inthe genome in question. In a preferred embodiment a polynucleotide which“selectively hybridizes” is one which hybridizes with a selectivity ofgreater than 70%, greater than 80%, greater than 90% and most preferablyon 100% (ie cross hybridization with other RNA species preferably occursat less than 30%, less than 20%, less than 10%). As would be understoodto a person skilled in the art, a polynucleotide which “selectivelyhybridizes” to the RNA product of a biomarker of the invention can bedetermined taking into account the length and composition.

As used herein, “specifically hybridizes”, “specific hybridization”refers to hybridization which occurs when two nucleic acid sequences aresubstantially complementary (at least about 65% complementary over astretch of at least 14 to 25 nucleotides, preferably at least about 75%complementary, more preferably at least about 90% complementary). SeeKanehisa, M., 1984, Nucleic acids Res., 12:203, incorporated herein byreference. As a result, it is expected that a certain degree of mismatchis tolerated. Such mismatch may be small, such as a mono-, di- ortri-nucleotide. Alternatively, a region of mismatch can encompass loops,which are defined as regions in which there exists a mismatch in anuninterrupted series of four or more nucleotides. Numerous factorsinfluence the efficiency and selectivity of hybridization of two nucleicacids, for example, the hybridization of a nucleic acid member on anarray to a target nucleic acid sequence. These factors include nucleicacid member length, nucleotide sequence and/or composition,hybridization temperature, buffer composition and potential for sterichindrance in the region to which the nucleic acid member is required tohybridize. A positive correlation exists between the nucleic acid lengthand both the efficiency and accuracy with which a nucleic acid willanneal to a target sequence. In particular, longer sequences have ahigher melting temperature (T_(M)) than do shorter ones, and are lesslikely to be repeated within a given target sequence, thereby minimizingnon-specific hybridization. Hybridization temperature varies inverselywith nucleic acid member annealing efficiency. Similarly theconcentration of organic solvents, e.g., formamide, in a hybridizationmixture varies inversely with annealing efficiency, while increases insalt concentration in the hybridization mixture facilitate annealing.Under stringent annealing conditions, longer nucleic acids, hybridizemore efficiently than do shorter ones, which are sufficient under morepermissive conditions

As used herein, “spotting” or “attaching” refers to a process ofdepositing a nucleic acid member onto a solid substrate to form anucleic acid array such that the nucleic acid is stably bound to thesolid substrate via covalent bonds, hydrogen bonds or ionicinteractions.

As used herein, “stably associated” refers to a nucleic acid that isstably bound to a solid substrate to form an array via covalent bonds,hydrogen bonds or ionic interactions such that the nucleic acid retainsits unique pre-selected position relative to all other nucleic acidsthat are stably associated with an array, or to all other pre-selectedregions on the solid substrate under conditions in which an array istypically analyzed (i.e., during one or more steps of hybridization,washes, and/or scanning, etc.).

As used herein, “substrate” or “support” when referring to an arrayrefers to a material having a rigid or semi-rigid surface. The supportmay be biological, non-biological, organic, inorganic, or a combinationof any of these, existing as particles, strands, precipitates, gels,sheets, tubing, spheres, beads, containers, capillaries, pads, slices,films, plates, slides, chips, etc. Often, the substrate is a silicon orglass surface, (poly)tetrafluoroethylene, (poly)vinylidenedifluoride,polystyrene, polycarbonate, a charged membrane, such as nylon 66 ornitrocellulose, or combinations thereof. In a preferred embodiment, thesupport is glass. Preferably, at least one surface of the substrate willbe substantially flat. Preferably, the support will contain reactivegroups, including, but not limited to, carboxyl, amino, hydroxyl, thiol,and the like. In one embodiment, the support is optically transparent.

As used herein, “specifically hybridizes”, “specific hybridization”refers to hybridization which occurs when two nucleic acid sequences aresubstantially complementary (at least about 65% complementary over astretch of at least 14 to 25 nucleotides, preferably at least about 75%complementary, more preferably at least about 90% complementary). SeeKanehisa, M., 1984, Nucleic acids Res., 12:203, incorporated herein byreference. As a result, it is expected that a certain degree of mismatchis tolerated. Such mismatch may be small, such as a mono-, di- ortri-nucleotide. Alternatively, a region of mismatch can encompass loops,which are defined as regions in which there exists a mismatch in anuninterrupted series of four or more nucleotides. Numerous factorsinfluence the efficiency and selectivity of hybridization of two nucleicacids, for example, the hybridization of a nucleic acid member on anarray to a target nucleic acid sequence. These factors include nucleicacid member length, nucleotide sequence and/or composition,hybridization temperature, buffer composition and potential for sterichindrance in the region to which the nucleic acid member is required tohybridize. A positive correlation exists between the nucleic acid lengthand both the efficiency and accuracy with which a nucleic acid willanneal to a target sequence. In particular, longer sequences have ahigher melting temperature (T_(M)) than do shorter ones, and are lesslikely to be repeated within a given target sequence, thereby minimizingpromiscuous hybridization. Hybridization temperature varies inverselywith nucleic acid member annealing efficiency. Similarly theconcentration of organic solvents, e.g., formamide, in a hybridizationmixture varies inversely with annealing efficiency, while increases insalt concentration in the hybridization mixture facilitate annealing.Under stringent annealing conditions, longer nucleic acids, hybridizemore efficiently than do shorter ones, which are sufficient under morepermissive conditions.

As herein used, the term “standard stringent conditions” meanshybridization will occur only if there is at least 95% and preferably,at least 97% identity between the sequences, wherein the region ofidentity comprises at least 10 nucleotides. In one embodiment, thesequences hybridize under stringent conditions following incubation ofthe sequences overnight at 42° C., followed by stringent washes (0.2×SSCat 65° C.). The degree of stringency of washing can be varied bychanging the temperature, pH, ionic strength, divalent cationconcentration, volume and duration of the washing. For example, thestringency of hybridization may be varied by conducting thehybridization at varying temperatures below the melting temperatures ofthe probes. The melting temperature of the probe may be calculated usingthe following formulas:

For oligonucleotide probes, between 14 and 70 nucleotides in length, themelting temperature (Tm) in degrees Celcius may be calculated using theformula: Tm=81.5+16.6(log [Na+])+0.41(fraction G+C)−(600/N) where N isthe length of the oligonucleotide.

For example, the hybridization temperature may be decreased inincrements of 5° C. from 68° C. to 42° C. in a hybridization bufferhaving a Na+ concentration of approximately 1M. Following hybridization,the filter may be washed with 2×SSC, 0.5% SDS at the temperature ofhybridization. These conditions are considered to be “moderatestringency” conditions above 50° C. and “low stringency” conditionsbelow 50° C. A specific example of “moderate stringency” hybridizationconditions is when the above hybridization is conducted at 55° C. Aspecific example of “low stringency” hybridization conditions is whenthe above hybridization is conducted at 45° C.

If the hybridization is carried out in a solution containing formamide,the melting temperature may be calculated using the equationTm=81.5+16.6(log [Na+])+0.41(fraction G+C)−(0.63% formamide)−(600/N),where N is the length of the probe.

For example, the hybridization may be carried out in buffers, such as6×SSC, containing formamide at a temperature of 42° C. In this case, theconcentration of formamide in the hybridization buffer may be reduced in5% increments from 50% to 0% to identify clones having decreasing levelsof homology to the probe. Following hybridization, the filter may bewashed with 6×SSC, 0.5% SDS at 50° C. These conditions are considered tobe “moderate stringency” conditions above 25% formamide and “lowstringency” conditions below 25% formamide. A specific example of“moderate stringency” hybridization conditions is when the abovehybridization is conducted at 30% formamide. A specific example of “lowstringency” hybridization conditions is when the above hybridization isconducted at 10% formamide.

As used herein, the term “significant match”, when referring to nucleicacid sequences, means that two nucleic acid sequences exhibit at least65% identity, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%,and preferably, at least 90% identity, using comparison methods wellknown in the art (i.e., Altschul, S. F. et al., 1997, Nucl. Acids Res.,25:3389-3402; Schäffer, A. A. et al., 1999, Bioinformatics 15:1000-1011). As used herein, “significant match” encompassesnon-contiguous or scattered identical nucleotides so long as thesequences exhibit at least 65%, and preferably, at least 70%, at least75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, and preferably, at least 90% identity,when maximally aligned using alignment methods routine in the art.

As used herein, the term “synergistic” refers to a combination of acompound identified using one of the methods described herein, andanother therapy (e.g., agent), which is more effective than the additiveeffects of the therapies. Preferably, such other therapy has been or iscurrently being to prevent, treat, manage or ameliorate schizophreniaand/or bipolar disorder or a symptom thereof. A synergistic effect of acombination of therapies (e.g., prophylactic or therapeutic agents)permits the use of lower dosages of one or more of the therapies and/orless frequent administration of said therapies to a subject withschizophrenia or bipolar disorder. The ability to utilize lower dosagesof a therapy (e.g., a prophylactic or therapeutic agent) and/or toadminister said therapy less frequently reduces the toxicity associatedwith the administration of said agent to a subject without reducing theefficacy of said therapies in the prevention, treatment, management oramelioration of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. In addition, asynergistic effect can result in improved efficacy of therapies (e.g.,agents) in the prevention, treatment, management or amelioration ofschizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Finally, a synergistic effect of acombination of therapies (e.g., prophylactic or therapeutic agents) mayavoid or reduce adverse or unwanted side effects associated with the useof either therapy alone.

As used herein, a “therapeutic agent” or “agent” refers to a compoundthat increases or decreases the expression of a polynucleotide orpolypeptide sequences that are differentially expressed in a tissue orblood sample from an individual having schizophrenia or bipolardisorder. The invention provides for a “therapeutic agent” that 1)prevents the onset of episodes of schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder;2) reduces, delays, or eliminates advancement of episodes or severity ofschizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder and/or 3) restores one or moreexpression profiles of one or more disease-indicative nucleic acids orpolypeptides of a patient to a profile more similar to that of a normalindividual when administered to a patient.

As used herein, the terms “therapeutic agent” and “therapeutic agents”refer to any compound(s) which can be used in the treatment, managementor amelioration of schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder or one or moresymptoms and/or episodes thereof. In a specific embodiment, the term“therapeutic agent” refers to a compound that increases or decreases theexpression of a polynucleotide or polypeptide sequence that isdifferentially expressed in a brain cell or brain cell line. Theinvention provides for a “therapeutic agent” that 1) prevents the onsetschizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder or episodes thereof; 2) reduces,delays, or eliminates schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder symptomsand/or episodes 3) reduces, delays, or eliminates schizophrenia and/orbipolar disorder progression; and/or 4) restores one or more expressionprofiles of one or more disease-indicative nucleic acids or proteins ofa patient to a profile more similar to that of a normal individual whenadministered to a patient. In certain embodiments, the term “therapeuticagent” refers to a compound identified in the screening assays describedherein. In other embodiments, the term “therapeutic agent” refers to anagent other than a compound identified in the screening assays describedherein which is known to be useful for, or has been or is currentlybeing used to treat, manage or ameliorate schizophrenia and/or bipolardisorder or one or more symptoms and/or episodes thereof.

As used herein, the term “therapeutically effective amount” refers tothat amount of a therapy (e.g., a therapeutic agent) sufficient toresult in the amelioration of schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder orone or more symptoms and/or episodes thereof, prevent advancement ofschizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder and/or episodes thereof, causeregression of schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder and/or episodesthereof, or to enhance or improve the therapeutic effect(s) of anothertherapy (e.g., therapeutic agent). In a specific embodiment, atherapeutically effective amount refers to the amount of a therapy(e.g., a therapeutic agent) that modulates gene expression of theproducts of the biomarkers of the inventions. Preferably, atherapeutically effective amount of a therapy (e.g., a therapeuticagent) modulates gene expression of the products of the biomarkers ofthe invention at least 5%, preferably at least 10%, at least 15%, atleast 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 35%, at least 40%, atleast 45%, at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, atleast 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, atleast 95%, or at least 100% relative to a control therapeutic agent suchas phosphate buffered saline (“PBS”).

As used herein, the terms “treat”, “treatment” and “treating” refer tothe reduction or amelioration of the progression, severity and/orduration of episodes and/or symptoms of therapeutic agent resulting fromthe administration of one or more compounds identified in accordance themethods of the invention, or a combination of one or more compoundsidentified in accordance with the invention and another therapy.

As used herein, a “tissue nucleic acid sample”, refers to nucleic acidsderived from tissue, preferably brain tissue. Preferably, a tissuenucleic acid sample is total RNA, mRNA or is a nucleic acidcorresponding to RNA, for example, cDNA. A tissue nucleic acid samplecan also include a PCR product derived from total RNA, mRNA or cDNA.

5.2 Summary

The practice of the present invention employs in part conventionaltechniques of molecular biology, microbiology and recombinant DNAtechniques, which are within the skill of the art. Such techniques areexplained fully in the literature. See, e.g., Sambrook, Fritsch &Maniatis, 1989, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Second Edition;Oligonucleotide Synthesis (M. J. Gait, ed., 1984); Nucleic AcidHybridization (B. D. Hames & S. J. Higgins, eds., 1984); A PracticalGuide to Molecular Cloning (B. Perbal, 1984); and a series, Methods inEnzymology (Academic Press, Inc.); Short Protocols In Molecular Biology,(Ausubel et al., ed., 1995). All patents, patent applications, andpublications mentioned herein, both supra and infra, are herebyincorporated by reference in their entireties.

The invention as disclosed herein identifies biomarkers and biomarkercombinations as well as a method of identifying said combinations fromblood useful in diagnosing schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder. Inorder to use these biomarkers, the invention teaches the measurement ofexpression of the RNA and/or the protein products of these biomarkers.The invention further discloses the oligonucleotides, cDNA, DNA, RNA,PCR products, synthetic DNA, synthetic RNA, or other combinations ofmodified nucleotides that specifically and/or selectively hybridize tothe RNA products of the biomarkers of the invention allowing measurementof the expression of the RNA products of the biomarkers. The inventionfurther discloses proteins, peptides, antibodies, ligands thatspecifically or selectively bind to the protein products of thebiomarkers of the invention allowing measurement of the expression ofthe protein products of the invention and kits containing thesepolypeptides and/or polynucleotides.

The measuring of the expression of the RNA product of the biomarkers andcombination of biomarkers of the invention, can be done by using thosepolynucleotides which are specific and/or selective for the RNA productsof the biomarkers of the invention to quantitate the expression of theRNA product. In a specific embodiment of the invention, thepolynucleotides which are specific and/or selective for the RNA productsare probes or primers. In one embodiment, these polynucleotides are inthe form of nucleic acid probes which can be spotted onto an array tomeasure RNA from the blood of an individual to be diagnosed. In anotherembodiment, commercial arrays can be used to measure the expression ofthe RNA product and the invention teaches which combination of genes toanalyze. In yet another embodiment, the polynucleotides which arespecific and/or selective for the RNA products of the biomarkers of theinvention are used in the form of probes and primers in techniques suchas quantitative real-time RT PCR, using for example SYBR®Green, or usingTaqMan® or Molecular Beacon techniques, where the polynucleotides usedare used in the form of a forward primer, a reverse primer, a TaqManlabelled probe or a Molecular Beacon labelled probe. The invention alsoteaches, in one embodiment, a method of identifying useful combinationsof biomarkers by generating classifiers said classifiers able todifferentiate as between (a) schizophrenia and non schizophrenia (b)bipolar disorder and non bipolar disorder and (c) schizophrenia andbipolar disorder; or (d) schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and nonschizophrenia or non bipolar disorder using one or more of thebiomarkers disclosed herein. The classifiers generated are particularlyuseful, in one embodiment to be used as a means to diagnosis.Classifiers which are able to differentiate as between (a) schizophreniaand non schizophrenia (b) bipolar disorder and non bipolar disorder and(c) schizophrenia and bipolar disorder; (d) schizophrenia, bipolardisorder and normal are generated by measuring the level of expressionof the RNA products and/or the protein products of the invention andusing the data resulting from said measurement for input into amathematical model. Classifiers can be evaluated to determine the bestcombinations of biomarkers of the invention and appropriate weightingsto be accorded to said biomarkers, so as to best classify as between twoor more of the phenotypes schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or normal of areference population. Note that it is not necessary that the same methodused to generate the classifier as is used to diagnose the testindividual.

The invention further contemplates the use of proteins or polypeptidesas disclosed herein and would be known by a person skilled in the art tomeasure the protein products of the biomarkers of the invention.Techniques known to persons skilled in the art (for example, techniquessuch as Western Blotting, Immunoprecipitation, ELISAs, proteinmicroarray analysis and the like) can then be used to measure the levelof protein products corresponding to the biomarkers of the invention. Aswould be understood to a person skilled in the art, the measure of thelevel of expression of the protein products of the biomarkers of theinvention requires a protein which specifically and/or selectively bindsto one or more of the protein products corresponding to each biomarkerof the invention. Data representative of the level of expression of theprotein products of the biomarker of the invention can then be inputinto the model used to identify the combination in order to determine adiagnosis as defined by the model. In a preferred embodiment, the samemethod is used to generate the expression data used to generate themathematical model as is used to diagnose the test individual.

The invention further contemplates the use of a combination of proteinsor polypeptides in combination with polynucleotides so as to measure oneor more products of the biomarkers of the invention.

The invention further contemplates a composition comprising a collectionof two or more isolated polynucleotides, said polynucleotides whichselectively hybridize to at least two biomarkers of the invention,wherein the biomarkers are selected from the group consisting of thegenes: adenylosuccinate synthase (ADSS); apolipoprotein B mRNA editingenzyme, catalytic polypeptide-like 3B (APOBEC3B); ataxia telangiectasiamutated (includes complementation groups A, C and D) (ATM);Charcot-Leyden crystal protein (CLC); C-terminal binding protein 1(CTBP1); chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 (melanoma growth stimulatingactivity, alpha) (CXCL1); death associated transcription factor 1(DATF1); S100 calcium binding protein A9 (calgranulin B) (S100A9), andas set out in Table 1, and wherein the composition is used to measurethe level of expression of said biomarker.

The invention further contemplates a composition comprising a collectionof two or more isolated polynucleotides which bind selectively to theRNA products of at least two biomarkers, wherein the biomarkers areselected from the group consisting of the genes: adenylosuccinatesynthase (ADSS); apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme, catalyticpolypeptide-like 3B (APOBEC3B); ataxia telangiectasia mutated (includescomplementation groups A, C and D) (ATM); Charcot-Leyden crystal protein(CLC); C-terminal binding protein 1 (CTBP1); chemokine (C-X-C motif)ligand 1 (melanoma growth stimulating activity, alpha) (CXCL1); deathassociated transcription factor 1 (DATF1); S100 calcium binding proteinA9 (calgranulin B) (S100A9), as set out in Table 1. A further aspect ofthis embodiment encompasses polynucleotides are useful in quantitativeRT-PCR (QRT-PCR) of one or two or more of these biomarkers.

The invention further contemplates a composition comprising a collectionof two or more isolated proteins which bind selectively to the proteinproducts of at least two biomarkers, wherein the biomarkers are selectedfrom the group consisting of the genes: adenylosuccinate synthase(ADSS); apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme, catalytic polypeptide-like3B (APOBEC3B); ataxia telangiectasia mutated (includes complementationgroups A, C and D) (ATM); Charcot-Leyden crystal protein (CLC);C-terminal binding protein 1 (CTBP1); chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1(melanoma growth stimulating activity, alpha) (CXCL1); death associatedtranscription factor 1 (DATF1); S100 calcium binding protein A9(calgranulin B) (S100A9), as set out in Table 1.

The invention further contemplates a composition comprising a collectionof two or more isolated polynucleotides which bind selectively to theRNA products of one or more biomarkers, wherein the biomarkers areselected from the group consisting of the genes: adenylosuccinatesynthase (ADSS); death associated transcription factor 1 (DATF1); aslisted in Table 3.

The invention further contemplates a composition comprising a collectionof one or more isolated proteins, which bind selectively to the proteinproducts of one or more biomarkers, wherein the biomarkers are selectedfrom the group consisting of the genes: adenylosuccinate synthase(ADSS); death associated transcription factor 1 (DATF1); as set out inTable 3.

The invention further contemplates a composition comprising a collectionof isolated polynucleotides which bind selectively to the RNA productsof biomarkers, wherein the biomarkers are selected from the group ofgenes: adenylosuccinate synthase (ADSS); death associated transcriptionfactor 1 (DATF1); as set out in Table 3.

The invention further contemplates a composition comprising a collectionof two or more isolated polynucleotides which bind selectively to theRNA products of at least one biomarker, wherein the biomarkers areselected from the group as set out in Table 4.

The invention further contemplates a composition comprising a collectionof two or more isolated polynucleotides which bind selectively to theRNA products of at least one biomarker, wherein the biomarkers areselected from the group as set out in Table 5.

The invention further contemplates a composition comprising a collectionof one or more isolated proteins which bind selectively to the proteinproducts of at least one biomarker, wherein the biomarkers are selectedfrom the group as set out in Table 4.

The invention further contemplates a composition comprising a collectionof one or more isolated proteins which bind selectively to the proteinproducts of at least one biomarker, wherein the biomarkers are selectedfrom the group as set out in Table 5.

The invention further contemplates embodiments of any one of thecompositions of the invention, wherein the referenced isolated proteinsof said compositions are ligands, and/or wherein the ligands areantibodies. In one aspect, these antibodies are monoclonal antibodies.

The invention further contemplates a composition comprising any of theoligonucleotide compositions of the invention, wherein the isolatedoligonucleotides are single or double stranded RNA, and/or wherein theisolated polynucleotides are single or double stranded DNA.

The invention further contemplates a method of diagnosing or prognosingschizophrenia in an individual, comprising the steps of:

a) determining the level of one or more RNA transcripts expressed inblood obtained from said individual, wherein said one or more RNAtranscripts corresponds to said one or more biomarkers of Table 3, and

b) comparing the level of each of said one or more RNA transcripts insaid blood according to step a) with the level of each of said one ormore RNA transcripts in blood from one or more individuals not havingschizophrenia,

wherein detecting differential expression of each of said one or moreRNA transcripts in the comparison of step b) is indicative ofschizophrenia in the individual of step a).

The invention further contemplates a method of diagnosing or prognosingbipolar disorder in an individual, comprising the steps of:

a) determining the level of one or more RNA transcripts expressed inblood obtained from said individual, wherein said one or more RNAtranscripts corresponds to said one or more biomarkers of Table 4, and

b) comparing the level of each of said one or more RNA transcripts insaid blood according to step a) with the level of each of said one ormore RNA transcripts in blood from one or more individuals not havingbipolar disorder,

wherein detecting differential expression of each of said one or moreRNA transcripts in the comparison of step b) is indicative of bipolardisorder in the individual of step a).

The invention further contemplates a method of diagnosing or prognosingand individual as having either bipolar disorder or schizophrenia,comprising the steps of:

a) determining the level of one or more RNA transcripts expressed inblood obtained from said individual, wherein said one or more RNAtranscripts corresponds to said one or more biomarkers of Table 5, and

b) comparing the level of each of said one or more RNA transcripts insaid blood according to step a) with the level of each of said one ormore RNA transcripts in blood from one or more individuals havingschizophrenia,

wherein detecting differential expression of each of said one or moreRNA transcripts in the comparison of step b) is indicative of bipolardisorder in the individual of step a).

The invention further contemplates a method of diagnosing or prognosingand individual as having either bipolar disorder or schizophrenia,comprising the steps of:

a) determining the level of one or more RNA transcripts expressed inblood obtained from said individual, wherein said one or more RNAtranscripts corresponds to said one or more biomarkers of Table 5, and

b) comparing the level of each of said one or more RNA transcripts insaid blood according to step a) with the level of each of said one ormore RNA transcripts in blood from one or more individuals havingbipolar disorder,

wherein detecting differential expression of each of said one or moreRNA transcripts in the comparison of step b) is indicative ofschizophrenia in the individual of step a).

The invention further contemplates a method of diagnosing or prognosingschizophrenia in an individual, comprising the steps of:

-   -   a) determining the level of two or more RNA transcripts        expressed in blood obtained from said individual, wherein said        two or more RNA transcripts corresponds to said one or more        biomarkers of Table 1 and    -   b) comparing the level of each of said two or more RNA        transcripts in said blood according to step a) with the level of        each of said two or more RNA transcripts in blood from one or        more individuals having schizophrenia,    -   c) comparing the level of each of said two or more RNA        transcripts in said blood according to step a) with the level of        each of said two or more RNA transcripts in blood from one or        more individuals not having schizophrenia,    -   d) determining whether the level of said two or more RNA        transcripts of step a) classify with the levels of said        transcripts in step b) as compared with levels of said        transcripts in step c),    -   wherein said determination is indicative of said individual of        step a) having schizophrenia.

The invention further contemplates a method of diagnosing or prognosingbipolar disorder in an individual, comprising the steps of:

-   -   a) determining the level of two or more RNA transcripts        expressed in blood obtained from said individual, wherein said        two or more RNA transcripts corresponds to said two or more        biomarkers of Table 1 and    -   b) comparing the level of each of said two or more RNA        transcripts in said blood according to step a) with the level of        each of said two or more RNA transcripts in blood from one or        more individuals having bipolar disorder,    -   c) comparing the level of each of said two or more RNA        transcripts in said blood according to step a) with the level of        each of said two or more RNA transcripts in blood from one or        more individuals not having bipolar disorder,    -   d) determining whether the level of said two or more RNA        transcripts of step a) classify with the levels of said        transcripts in step b) as compared with levels of said        transcripts in step c),    -   wherein said determination is indicative of said individual of        step a) having bipolar disorder.

The invention further contemplates a method of diagnosing or prognosingan individual as having bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, comprisingthe steps of:

-   -   a) determining the level of two or more RNA transcripts        expressed in blood obtained from said individual, wherein said        two or more RNA transcripts corresponds to said two or more        biomarkers of Table 1 and    -   b) comparing the level of each of said two or more RNA        transcripts in said blood according to step a) with the level of        each of said two or more RNA transcripts in blood from one or        more individuals having bipolar disorder,    -   c) comparing the level of each of said two or more RNA        transcripts in said blood according to step a) with the level of        each of said two or more RNA transcripts in blood from one or        more individuals having schizophrenia,    -   d) determining whether the level of said two or more RNA        transcripts of step a) classify with the levels of said        transcripts in step b) as compared with levels of said        transcripts in step c),    -   wherein said determination is indicative of said individual of        step a) having bipolar disorder.

The invention further contemplates a method of diagnosing or prognosingschizophrenia in an individual, comprising the steps of:

a) determining the level of one or more RNA transcripts expressed inblood obtained from said individual, wherein said one or more RNAtranscripts corresponds to said one or more biomarkers of Table 1 and

b) using the results from step (a) in combination with a classifier soas to determine a diagnosis with respect to schizophrenia.

The invention further contemplates a method of diagnosing or prognosingbipolar disorder in an individual, comprising the steps of:

a) determining the level of one or more RNA transcripts expressed inblood obtained from said individual, wherein said one or more RNAtranscripts corresponds to said one or more biomarkers of Table 1 and

b) using the results from step (a) in combination with a classifier soas to determine a diagnosis with respect to bipolar disorder.

The invention further contemplates that any of the methods of theinvention comprising a blood sample, that in these methods said bloodsample consists of whole blood, and/or consists of a drop of blood,and/or consists of blood that has been lysed.

The invention further contemplates that any of the methods of theinvention comprising a blood sample, that in these methods therecomprises a further step of isolating RNA from said blood samples.

The invention further contemplates the instantly disclosed methodswherein the referenced step of determining the level of each of said oneor more RNA transcripts comprises quantitative RT-PCR (QRT-PCR), whereinsaid one or more transcripts are from step a) and/or step b) of theabove instantly disclosed methods. The invention further contemplatesthe instantly disclosed methods wherein the referenced QRT-PCR utilizesprimers which hybridize to said one or more transcripts or thecomplement thereof, wherein said one or more transcripts are from stepa) and/or step b) of the above disclosed methods.

The invention further contemplates that any of the methods of theinvention which comprises one or more steps of determining the level ofeach of said one or more RNA transcripts, comprises quantitative RT-PCR(QRT-PCR). In one aspect, the said one or more transcripts are from stepa) and/or step b) of the instant methods. In a further embodiment ofthese methods, said QRT-PCR utilizes primers which hybridize to said oneor more transcripts or the complement thereof, wherein said one or moretranscripts are from Tables 1-6.

The invention further contemplates that any of the methods of theinvention comprising primers, said primers are 15-25 nucleotides inlength.

The invention further contemplates that any of the methods of theinvention comprising one or more steps of determining the level of eachof said one or more RNA transcripts, the step of determining the levelof each of said one or more RNA transcripts comprises hybridizing afirst plurality of isolated nucleic acid molecules that correspond tosaid one or more transcripts, to an array comprising a second pluralityof isolated nucleic acid molecules. In an aspect of these embodiedmethods, the first plurality of isolated nucleic acid moleculescomprises RNA, DNA, cDNA, PCR products or ESTs. In an aspect of theseembodied methods, the array comprises a plurality of isolated nucleicacid molecules comprising RNA, DNA, cDNA, PCR products or ESTs. In anaspect of these embodied methods, the second plurality of isolatednucleic acid molecules on said array comprises polynucleotidescorresponding to one or more of the biomarkers of Table 1.

The invention further contemplates a kit for diagnosing or prognosingschizophrenia comprising:

a) at least two sets of biomarker specific priming means wherein eachset of biomarker specific priming means produces double stranded DNAcomplementary to a unique biomarker selected from Table 1; wherein eachfirst priming means of said sets contains a sequence which canselectively hybridize to RNA, cDNA or an EST complementary to one ofsaid biomarkers to create an extension product and each said secondpriming means of said sets is capable of selectively hybridizing to saidextension product;

b) an enzyme with reverse transcriptase activity;

c) an enzyme with thermostable DNA polymerase activity, and

d) a labeling means;

wherein each of said primer sets is used to detect the quantitativeexpression levels of said biomarker in a test subject.

The invention further contemplates a kit for diagnosing or prognosingbipolar disorder comprising:

a) at least two sets of biomarker specific priming means wherein eachset of biomarker specific priming means produces double stranded DNAcomplementary to a unique biomarker selected from Table 1; wherein eachfirst priming means of said sets contains a sequence which canselectively hybridize to RNA, cDNA or an EST complementary to one ofsaid biomarkers to create an extension product and each said secondpriming means of said sets is capable of selectively hybridizing to saidextension product;

b) an enzyme with reverse transcriptase activity;

c) an enzyme with thermostable DNA polymerase activity, and

d) a labeling means;

wherein each said primer set is used to detect the quantitativeexpression levels of a biomarker in a test subject.

The invention further contemplates a method of diagnosing or prognosingschizophrenia in an individual, comprising the steps of:

a) determining the level of two or more proteins expressed in bloodobtained from said individual, wherein said two or more proteins areencoded by two or more biomarkers of Table 1, and

b) comparing the level of each of said two or more proteins in saidblood according to step a) with the level of each of said two or moreproteins in blood from one or more individuals having schizophrenia,

c) comparing the level of each of said two or more proteins in saidblood according to step a) with the level of each of said two or moreproteins in blood from one or more individuals not having schizophrenia,

d) determining whether the level of said two or more proteins of step a)classify with the levels of said proteins in step b) as compared withlevels of said proteins in step c), wherein said determination isindicative of said individual of step a) having schizophrenia.

The invention further contemplates a method of diagnosing or prognosingbipolar disorder in an individual, comprising the steps of:

a) determining the level of two or more proteins expressed in bloodobtained from said individual, wherein said two or more proteins areencoded by two or more biomarkers of Table 1, and

b) comparing the level of each of said two or more proteins in saidblood according to step a) with the level of each of said two or moreproteins in blood from one or more individuals having bipolar disorder

c) comparing the level of each of said two or more proteins in saidblood according to step a) with the level of each of said two or moreproteins in blood from one or more individuals not having bipolardisorder,

d) determining whether the level of said two or more proteins of step a)classify with the levels of said proteins in step b) as compared withlevels of said proteins in step c), wherein said determination isindicative of said individual of step a) having bipolar disorder.

The invention further contemplates a method of diagnosing or prognosingan individual with bipolar disorder as compared with schizophrenia,comprising the steps of:

a) determining the level of two or more proteins expressed in bloodobtained from said individual, wherein said two or more proteins areencoded by two or more biomarkers of Table 1, and

b) comparing the level of each of said two or more proteins in saidblood according to step a) with the level of each of said two or moreproteins in blood from one or more individuals having bipolar disorder

c) comparing the level of each of said two or more proteins in saidblood according to step a) with the level of each of said two or moreproteins in blood from one or more individuals having schizophrenia,

d) determining whether the level of said two or more proteins of step a)classify with the levels of said proteins in step b) as compared withlevels of said proteins in step c), wherein said determination isindicative of said individual of step a) having bipolar disorder.

The invention further contemplates a method of diagnosing or prognosingschizophrenia in an individual, comprising the steps of:

a) determining the level of two or more protein products expressed inblood obtained from said individual, wherein said two or more proteinproducts corresponds to two or more biomarkers of Table 1 and

b) using the results from step (a) in combination with a classifierdesigned to differentiate schizophrenia from non schizophrenia so as todetermine a diagnosis with respect to schizophrenia.

The invention further contemplates a method of diagnosing or prognosingbipolar disorder in an individual, comprising the steps of:

a) determining the level of two or more protein products expressed inblood obtained from said individual, wherein said two or more proteinproducts corresponds to two or more biomarkers of Table 1 and

b) using the results from step (a) in combination with a classifierdesigned to differentiate bipolar disorder from non bipolar disorder soas to determine a diagnosis with respect to bipolar disorder.

The invention further contemplates a method of diagnosing or prognosingand individual as having bipolar disorder or schizophrenial, comprisingthe steps of:

a) determining the level of two or more protein products expressed inblood obtained from said individual, wherein said two or more proteinproducts corresponds to two or more biomarkers of Table 1 and

b) using the results from step (a) in combination with a classifierdesigned to differentiate bipolar disorder from schizophrenia so as todetermine a diagnosis with respect to bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.

The invention further contemplates that in any method of the inventionwhich comprises one or more steps of determining the level of each ofsaid one or more proteins, that the step of determining the level ofeach of said one or more proteins comprises the use of two or moreantibodies, wherein each of said two or more antibodies is specific fora protein product of a biomarker listed in Table 1. In an aspect ofthese methods, it is contemplated that the one or more antibodies isselected from the group consisting of a monoclonal antibody, fv. scfv,dab, fd, fab, and fab′2.

The invention further contemplates a method of developing a classifieruseful for diagnosing schizophrenia, said method comprising:

-   -   (a) measuring the level of expression of the products of the        biomarkers identified in Table 1 in a training population        wherein said training population is comprised of two subgroups,        a first subgroup diagnosed as having schizophrenia and said        second subgroup diagnosed as not having schizophrenia.    -   (b) apply one or more mathematical models to the levels of        expression of step (a) to develop one or more classifiers which        differentiate between said first subgroup and said second        subgroup. In one aspect of this invention, this method further        comprises the step of evaluating one or more of said classifiers        of step (b) for the classifier's ability to properly        characterize each individual of the training population. In one        aspect of this invention, this method further comprises the step        of evaluating one or more of said classifiers of step (b) for        the classifier's ability to properly characterize one or more        individuals of a population which is not the training        population. In one aspect of this invention, this method further        comprises the step of evaluating one or more of said classifiers        of step (b) for the classifier's ability to properly        characterize one or more individuals of a population which is        not the training population.

The invention further contemplates a method of developing a classifieruseful for diagnosing bipolar disorder, said method comprising:

-   -   (a) measuring the level of expression of the products of the        biomarkers identified in Table 1 in a training population        wherein said training population is comprised of two subgroups,        a first subgroup diagnosed as having bipolar disorder and said        second subgroup diagnosed as not having bipolar disorder.    -   (b) apply one or more mathematical models to the levels of        expression of step (a) to develop one or more classifiers which        differentiate between said first subgroup and said second        subgroup. In one aspect of this invention, this method further        comprises the step of evaluating one or more of said classifiers        of step (b) for the classifier's ability to properly        characterize each individual of the training population. In one        aspect of this invention, this method further comprises the step        of evaluating one or more of said classifiers of step (b) for        the classifier's ability to properly characterize one or more        individuals of a population which is not the training        population. In one aspect of this invention, this method further        comprises the step of evaluating one or more of said classifiers        of step (b) for the classifier's ability to properly        characterize one or more individuals of a population which is        not the training population.

The invention further contemplates a method of developing a classifieruseful for diagnosing bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, said methodcomprising:

-   -   (a) measuring the level of expression of the products of the        biomarkers identified in Table 1 in a training population        wherein said training population is comprised of two subgroups,        a first subgroup diagnosed as having bipolar disorder and said        second subgroup diagnosed as having schizophrenia.    -   (b) apply one or more mathematical models to the levels of        expression of step (a) to develop one or more classifiers which        differentiate between said first subgroup and said second        subgroup. In one aspect of this invention, this method further        comprises the step of evaluating one or more of said classifiers        of step (b) for the classifier's ability to properly        characterize each individual of the training population. In one        aspect of this invention, this method further comprises the step        of evaluating one or more of said classifiers of step (b) for        the classifier's ability to properly characterize one or more        individuals of a population which is not the training        population. In one aspect of this invention, this method further        comprises the step of evaluating one or more of said classifiers        of step (b) for the classifier's ability to properly        characterize one or more individuals of a population which is        not the training population.

The invention further contemplates the instantly disclosed methods whichfurther comprises the step of evaluating one or more of said classifiersof step (b) for the classifier's ability to properly characterize one ormore individuals of a population which is not the training population.

5.3 Samples For Use in the Invention

Unless otherwise indicated herein, blood samples obtained from anysubject may be used in accordance with the methods of the invention.Examples of subjects from which such a sample may be obtained andutilized in accordance with the methods of the invention include, butare not limited to, asymptomatic subjects, subjects manifesting orexhibiting 1, 2, 3, 4 or more symptoms of schizophrenia and/or bipolardisorder, subjects clinically diagnosed as having schizophrenia and/orbipolar disorder, subjects predisposed to schizophrenia and/or bipolardisorder (e.g., subjects with a family history of schizophrenia and/orbipolar disorder, subjects with a genetic predisposition toschizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder, subjects suspected of havingschizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder, subjects undergoing therapy forschizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder, subjects with schizophreniaand/or bipolar disorder and at least one other condition (e.g., subjectswith 2, 3, 4, 5 or more conditions), subjects not undergoing treatmentfor schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder, subjects determined by amedical practitioner (e.g., a physician) to be healthy or schizophreniaor bipolar disorder-free (i.e., normal), subjects that have been curedof schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder, subjects that are managingtheir schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder, and subjects that have notbeen diagnosed with schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder.

In a further embodiment, the subject from which a sample may be obtainedis a test individual wherein it is unknown whether the person hasschizophrenia or bipolar disorder, and/or it is unknown what degree ofschizophrenia or bipolar disorder the test individual might have, ifany.

5.3.1. Blood

In one aspect of the invention, a sample of blood is obtained from asubject according to methods well known in the art. A sample of bloodmay be obtained from a subject, for example a subject havingschizophrenia, having bipolar disorder or not having schizophrenia orbipolar disorder. In some embodiments, a drop of blood is collected froma simple pin prick made in the skin of a subject. Blood may be drawnfrom a subject from any part of the body (e.g., a finger, a hand, awrist, an arm, a leg, a foot, an ankle, a stomach, and a neck) usingtechniques known to one of skill in the art, in particular methods ofphlebotomy known in the art.

The amount of blood collected will vary depending upon the site ofcollection, the amount required for a method of the invention, and thecomfort of the subject. However, an advantage of one embodiment of thepresent invention is that the amount of blood required to implement themethods of the present invention can be so small that more invasiveprocedures are not required to obtain the sample. For example, in someembodiments, all that is required is a drop of blood. This drop of bloodcan be obtained, for example, from a simple pinprick. In someembodiments, any amount of blood is collected that is sufficient todetect the expression of one, two, three, four, five, six, seven or allof the genes in Table 1. As such, in some embodiments, the amount ofblood that is collected is 1 μl or less, 0.5 μl or less, 0.1 μl or less,or 0.01 μl or less. However, the present invention is not limited tosuch embodiments. In some embodiments more blood is available and insome embodiments, more blood can be used to effect the methods of thepresent invention. As such, in various specific embodiments, 0.001 ml,0.005 ml, 0.01 ml, 0.05 ml, 0.1 ml, 0.15 ml, 0.2 ml, 0.25 ml, 0.5 ml,0.75 ml, 1 ml, 1.5 ml, 2 ml, 3 ml, 4 ml, 5 ml, 10 ml, 15 ml or more ofblood is collected from a subject. In another embodiment, 0.001 ml to 15ml, 0.01 ml to 10 ml, 0.1 ml to 10 ml, 0.1 ml to 5 ml, 1 to 5 ml ofblood is collected from a subject.

In some embodiments of the present invention, blood is stored within aK3/EDTA tube. In another embodiment, one can utilize tubes for storingblood which contain stabilizing agents such as disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 6,617,170 (which is incorporated herein by reference). In anotherembodiment the PAXgene™ blood RNA system:provided by PreAnalytiX, aQiagen/BD company may be used to collect blood. In yet anotherembodiment, the Tempus™ blood RNA collection tubes, offered by AppliedBiosystems may be used. Tempus™ collection tubes provide a closedevacuated plastic tube containing RNA stabilizing reagent for wholeblood collection.

The blood collected is preferably utilized immediately or within 1 hour,2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours or 6 hours or is optionally stored attemperatures such as 4° C., or at −20° C. prior to use in accordancewith the methods of the invention. In some embodiments, a portion of theblood sample is used in accordance with the invention at a firstinstance of time whereas one or more remaining portions of the bloodsample (or fractions thereof) are stored for a period of time for lateruse. For longer term storage, storage methods well known in the art,such as storage at cryo temperatures (e.g. below −60° C.) can be used.In some embodiments, in addition to storage of the blood or instead ofstorage of the blood, plasma, serum, isolated nucleic acid or proteinsare stored for a period of time for later use in accordance with methodsknown in the art.

In one aspect, whole blood is obtained from an individual according tothe methods of phlebotomy well known in the art. Whole blood includesblood which can be used directly, and includes blood wherein the serumor plasma has been removed and the RNA or mRNA from the remaining bloodsample has been isolated in accordance with methods well known in theart (e.g., using, preferably, gentle centrifugation at 300 to 800×g for5 to 10 minutes). In a specific embodiment, whole blood (i.e.,unfractionated blood) obtained from a subject is mixed with lysingbuffer (e.g., Lysis Buffer (IL): 0.6 g EDTA; 1.0 g KHCO₂, 8.2 g NH₄Cladjusted to pH 7.4 (using NaOH)), the sample is centrifuged and the cellpellet retained, and RNA or mRNA extracted in accordance with methodsknown in the art (“lysed blood”) (see for example Sambrook et al.). Theuse of unfractionated whole blood is preferred since it avoids thecostly and time-consuming process to separate out the cell types withinthe blood (Kimoto, 1998, Mol. Gen. Genet. 258:233-239; Chelly J et al.,1989, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 86:2617-2621; Chelly J et al., 1988,Nature 333:858-860).

In some embodiments of the present invention, whole blood collected froma subject is fractionated (i.e., separated into components). In specificembodiments of the present invention, blood cells are separated fromwhole blood collected from a subject using techniques known in the art.For example, blood collected from a subject can be subjected toFicoll-Hypaque (Pharmacia) gradient centrifugation. Such centrifugationseparates erythrocytes (red blood cells) from various types of nucleatedcells and from plasma. In particular, Ficoll-Hypaque gradientcentrifugation is useful to isolate peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs)which can be used in accordance with the methods of the invention.

By way of example but not limitation, macrophages can be obtained asfollows. Mononuclear cells are isolated from peripheral blood of asubject, by syringe removal of blood followed by Ficoll-Hypaque gradientcentrifugation. Tissue culture dishes are pre-coated with the subject'sown serum or with AB+human serum and incubated at 37° C. for one hour.Non-adherent cells are removed by pipetting. Cold (4° C.) 1 mM EDTA inphosphate-buffered saline is added to the adherent cells left in thedish and the dishes are left at room temperature for fifteen minutes.The cells are harvested, washed with RPMI buffer and suspended in RPMIbuffer. Increased numbers of macrophages can be obtained by incubatingat 37° C. with macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF). Antibodiesagainst macrophage specific surface markers, such as Mac-1, can belabeled by conjugation of an affinity compound to such molecules tofacilitate detection and separation of macrophages. Affinity compoundsthat can be used include but are not limited to biotin, photobiotin,fluorescein isothiocyante (FITC), or phycoerythrin (PE), or othercompounds known in the art. Cells retaining labeled antibodies are thenseparated from cells that do not bind such antibodies by techniquesknown in the art such as, but not limited to, various cell sortingmethods, affinity chromatography, and panning.

Blood cells can be sorted using a using a fluorescence activated cellsorter (FACS). Fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) is a knownmethod for separating particles, including cells, based on thefluorescent properties of the particles. See, for example, Kamarch,1987, Methods Enzymol 151:150-165. Laser excitation of fluorescentmoieties in the individual particles results in a small electricalcharge allowing electromagnetic separation of positive and negativeparticles from a mixture. An antibody or ligand used to detect a bloodcell antigenic determinant present on the cell surface of particularblood cells is labeled with a fluorochrome, such as FITC orphycoerythrin. The cells are incubated with the fluorescently labeledantibody or ligand for a time period sufficient to allow the labeledantibody or ligand to bind to cells. The cells are processed through thecell sorter, allowing separation of the cells of interest from othercells. FACS sorted particles can be directly deposited into individualwells of microtiter plates to facilitate separation.

Magnetic beads can be also used to separate blood cells in someembodiments of the present invention. For example, blood cells can besorted using a using a magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) technique,a method for separating particles based on their ability to bindmagnetic beads (0.5-100 m diameter). A variety of useful modificationscan be performed on the magnetic microspheres, including covalentaddition of an antibody which specifically recognizes a cell-solid phasesurface molecule or hapten. A magnetic field is then applied, tophysically manipulate the selected beads. In a specific embodiment,antibodies to a blood cell surface marker are coupled to magnetic beads.The beads are then mixed with the blood cell culture to allow binding.Cells are then passed through a magnetic field to separate out cellshaving the blood cell surface markers of interest. These cells can thenbe isolated.

In some embodiments, the surface of a culture dish may be coated withantibodies, and used to separate blood cells by a method called panning.Separate dishes can be coated with antibody specific to particular bloodcells. Cells can be added first to a dish coated with blood cellspecific antibodies of interest. After thorough rinsing, the cells leftbound to the dish will be cells that express the blood cell markers ofinterest. Examples of cell surface antigenic determinants or markersinclude, but are not limited to, CD2 for T lymphocytes and naturalkiller cells, CD3 for T lymphocytes, CD11a for leukocytes, CD28 for Tlymphocytes, CD19 for B lymphocytes, CD20 for B lymphocytes, CD21 for Blymphocytes, CD22 for B lymphocytes, CD23 for B lymphocytes, CD29 forleukocytes, CD14 for monocytes, CD41 for platelets, CD61 for platelets,CD66 for granulocytes, CD67 for granulocytes and CD68 for monocytes andmacrophages.

Whole blood can be separated into cell types such as leukocytes,platelets, erythrocytes, etc. and such cell types can be used inaccordance with the methods of the invention. Leukocytes can be furtherseparated into granulocytes and agranulocytes using standard techniquesand such cells can be used in accordance with the methods of theinvention. Granulocytes can be separated into cell types such asneutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils using standard techniques andsuch cells can be used in accordance with the methods of the invention.Agranulocytes can be separated into lymphocytes (e.g., T lymphocytes andB lymphocytes) and monocytes using standard techniques and such cellscan be used in accordance with the methods of the invention. Tlymphocytes can be separated from B lymphocytes and helper T cellsseparated from cytotoxic T cells using standard techniques and suchcells can be used in accordance with the methods of the invention.Separated blood cells (e.g., leukocytes) can be frozen by standardtechniques prior to use in the present methods.

A blood sample that is useful according to the invention is in an amountthat is sufficient for the detection of one or more nucleic acid oramino acid sequences according to the invention. In a specificembodiment, a blood sample useful according to the invention is in anamount ranging from 1 μl to 100 ml, preferably 10 μl to 50 ml, morepreferably 10 μl to 25 ml and most preferably 10 μl to 1 ml.

5.4 RNA Preparation

In one aspect of the invention, RNA is isolated from an individual inorder to measure the RNA products of the biomarkers of the invention.RNA is isolated from blood samples from individuals diagnosed withschizophrenia or diagnoised with bipolar disorder, individuals nothaving schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, or test individuals.

Preferably, RNA is isolated from blood by the following protocol. LysisBuffer is added to blood sample in a ratio of 3 parts Lysis Buffer to 1part blood (Lysis Buffer (IL) 0.6 g EDTA; 1.0 g KHCO₂, 8.2 g NH₄Cladjusted to pH 7.4 (using NaOH)). Sample is mixed and placed on ice for5-10 minutes until transparent. Lysed sample is centrifuged at 1000 rpmfor 10 minutes at 4° C., and supernatant is aspirated. Pellet isresuspended in 5 ml Lysis Buffer, and centrifuged again at 1000 rpm for10 minutes at 4° C. Pelleted cells are homogenized using TRIzol®(GIBCO/BRL) in a ratio of approximately 6 ml of TRIzol® for every 10 mlof the original blood sample and vortexed well. Samples are left for 5minutes at room temperature. RNA is extracted using 1.2 ml of chloroformper 1 ml of TRIzol®. Sample is centrifuged at 12,000×g for 5 minutes at4° C. and upper layer is collected. To upper layer, isopropanol is addedin ratio of 0.5 ml per 1 ml of TRIzol®. Sample is left overnight at −20°C. or for one hour at −20° C. RNA is pelleted in accordance with knownmethods, RNA pellet air dried, and pellet resuspended in DEPC treatedddH₂O. RNA samples can also be stored in 75% ethanol where the samplesare stable at room temperature for transportation.

Purity and integrity of RNA can be assessed by absorbance at 260/280 nmand agarose gel electrophoresis followed by inspection under ultravioletlight. Preferably RNA integrity is assessed using more sensitivetechniques such as the Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer 6000 RNA Nano Chip.

5.5 Biomarkers of the Invention

In one aspect, the invention provides biomarkers and biomarkercombinations wherein the measure of the level of expression of theproduct or products of said biomarkers is indicative of the existence ofschizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder.

Table 1 provides a list of the gene names and the associated locus linkID for the biomarkers of the invention wherein the measure of the levelof expression of the biomarkers, in combination can be used to diagnosean individual as having schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder and/ordifferentiate between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

TABLE 1 Alternative Assigned Locus Rta_Transcript A Gene SymbolsHGNC_Symbol Label Link ID notation ADSS ADS 159 adenylosuccinatesynthase APOBEC3B APO 9582 apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme,catalytic polypeptide-like 3B ATM ATM 472 ataxia telangiectasia mutated(includes complementation groups A, C and D) CLC CLC 1178 Charcot-Leydencrystal protein CTBP1 CTB 1487 C-terminal binding protein 1 CXCL1 CXC2919 chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 (melanoma growth stimulatingactivity, alpha) DATF1 DAT 11083 death associated transcription factor 1S100A9 S10 6280 S100 calcium binding protein A9 (calgranulin B)The genes of Table 1 are identified on the basis of their name, HugoGene name and locus link ID.

As would be understood by a person skilled in the art, the locus link IDcan be used to determine the sequence of all the RNA transcripts and allof the proteins which correspond to the biomarkers of the invention.

Table 2 provides, in one embodiment of the invention, is a selection ofthe sequences of the RNA products corresponding to the biomarkers of theinvention as disclosed in Table 1 and whose sequences can be used tomeasure the level of expression of the biomarkers of the invention usingthose techniques known to a person skilled in the art. Table 2 alsoprovides, in one embodiment of the invention, sequences of the proteinscorresponding to the biomarkers of the invention which can be measuredto determine the level of expression of the biomarkers of the invention.

TABLE 2 Ref Ref Sequence Sequence Gene Protein Locus HGNC_GeneAlternative Accession Accession Link Rta_Transcript A Symbols SymbolNumber Number ID notation ADSS NM_001126 NP_001117 159 adenylosuccinatesynthase APOBEC3B NM_004900 NP_004891 9582 apolipoprotein B mRNA editingenzyme, catalytic polypeptide- like 3B ATM NM_000051 NP_000042 472ataxia telangiectasia mutated (includes complementation groups A, C andD) ATM NM_138292 NP_612149 472 ataxia telangiectasia mutated (includescomplementation groups A, C and D) transcript variant 2, mRNA. ATMNM_138293 NP_612150 472 ataxia telangiectasia mutated protein isoform 3CLC NM_001828 NP_001819 1178 Charcot-Leyden crystal protein CTBP1NM_001328 NP_001319 1487 C-terminal binding protein 1 CXCL1 NM_001511NP_001502 2919 Chemokine (C—X—C motif) ligand 1 (melanoma growthstimulating activity, alpha) DATF1 NM_022105 NP_071388 11083 deathassociated transcription factor 1 isoform a DATF1 NM_080796 NP_54298611083 death associated transcription factor 1, isoform a DATF1 NM_080797NP_542987 11083 death associated transcription factor 1 isoform b S100A9NM_002965 NP_002956 6280 S100 calcium binding protein A9 (calgranulin B)Table 3 provides a list of the gene names and the associated locus linkID for the biomarkers of the invention which have been newly identifiedas a biomarker which individually differentiates as betweenschizophrenia and non schizophrenia individuals. Genes are identified onthe basis of their name, Hugo Gene name and locus link ID. Genes havebeen selected which demonstrate a p value of <0.2

TABLE 3 Alternative Locus Gene Assigned Link Rta_Transcript A SymbolsHGNC_Symbol Label ID notation ADSS ADS 159 adenylosuccinate synthaseDATF1 DAT 11083 death associated transcription factor 1Table 4 provides a list of the gene names and the associated locus linkID for the biomarkers of the invention which have been newly identifiedas a biomarker which individually can differentiate as betweenindividuals with bipolar disorder or not having bipolar disorder. Geneshave been selected which demonstrate differential expression with a pvalue of <0.2. Table 4 identifies the genes on the basis of their name,Hugo Gene name and locus link ID.

TABLE 4 Alternative Locus Gene Assigned Link Rta_Transcript A SymbolsHGNC_Symbol Label ID notation ADSS ADS 159 adenylosuccinate synthaseAPOBEC3B APO 9582 apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme, catalyticpolypeptide- like 3B CXCL1 CXC 2919 chemokine (C—X—C motif) ligand 1(melanoma growth stimulating activity, alpha)Table 5 provides a list of the gene names and the associated locus linkID for the biomarkers of the invention which have been newly identifiedas a biomarker which individually differentiates as between individualswith bipolar disorder or individuals having schizophrenia. Table 5identifies the genes on the basis of their name, Hugo Gene name andlocus link ID.

TABLE 5 Alternative Locus Gene Assigned Link Rta_Transcript A SymbolsHGNC_Symbol Label ID notation ADSS ADS 159 adenylosuccinate synthaseDATF1 DAT 11083 death associated transcription factor 1The invention thus encompasses the use of those methods known to aperson skilled in the art to measure the expression of these biomarkersand combinations of biomarkers for each of the purposes outlined above.

5.6 Combinations oF Biomarkers

In one embodiment, combinations of biomarkers of the present inventionincludes any combination of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or all 8, of thebiomarkers listed in Table 1. For instance, the number of possiblecombinations of a subset m of n genes in any of the Tables above isdescribed in Feller, Intro to Probability Theory, Third Edition, volume1, 1968, ed. J. Wiley, using the general formula:m!/(n)!(m−n)!

In one embodiment of the invention, where n is 2 and m is 8, the numberof combinations of markers selected from Table 1 is:

$\begin{matrix}{\frac{8!}{{2!}{( {8 - 2} )!}} = \frac{8 \times 7 \times 6 \times 5 \times 4 \times 3 \times 2 \times 1}{( {2 \times 1} )( {6 \times 5 \times 4 \times 3 \times 2 \times 1} )}} \\{= {40320/1440}} \\{= 28}\end{matrix}$unique two-gene combinations. The measurement of the gene expression ofeach of these two-gene combinations can independently be used todetermine whether a patient has schizophrenia. In another specificembodiment in which m is 8 and n is three, there are 8!/3!(8−3)! uniquethree-gene combinations. Each of these unique three-gene combinationscan independently serve as a model for determining whether a patient hasschizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder.

5.7 Identifying Species of Useful Combinations of Biomarkers byGenerating Classifiers

The invention further provides a means of selecting those combinationsof biomarkers from Table 1 particularly useful for each of the following(a) differentiating between schizophrenia and non schizophreniaindividuals (b) differentiating between bipolar disorder and non bipolardisorder individuals (c) differentiating between schizophreniaindividuals and individuals with bipolar disorder. The invention furtherprovides a method of evaluating the combinations identified for each ofthe utilities described above and using the classifiers identified todiagnose an individual as having schizophrenia or having bipolardisorder.

In order to identify useful combinations of biomarkers and generateclassifiers, a mathematical model of the invention is used to test thepossible combinations of the biomarkers of the invention for eachcombination's ability to separate as between the two (e.g. binary modelssuch as logistic regression) or more (e.g. models such as neuralnetworks) phenotypic traits of a training population used for input intothe model. The phenotypic traits of the training population used forinput into the model are phenotypic traits for use in (a)differentiating between schizophrenia and non schizophrenia individuals(b) differentiating between bipolar disorder and non bipolar disorderindividuals (c) differentiating between schizophrenia individuals andindividuals with bipolar disorder or (d) differentiating betweenschizophrenia, bipolar disorder and individuals having neitherschizophrenia or bipolar disorder. The phenotypic traits of the trainingpopulation used for input into the mathematical model, and the modelused, will determine the utility of the combinations generated by themodel for use as a means of diagnosing schizophrenia and/or bipolardisorder. The result of the choice of phenotypic traits of the trainingpopulation used for entry into the mathematical model is described morethoroughly below.

The mathematical model generated can be subsequently evaluated bydetermining the ability of the model to correctly call each individualfor one of the two (or more) phenotypic traits of the population usedfor input into the model. In a preferred embodiment, the individuals ofthe training population used to derive the model are different from theindividuals of the training population used to test the model. As wouldbe understood by a person skilled in the art, this allows one to predictthe ability of the combinations as to their ability to properlycharacterize an individual whose phenotypic characterization is unknown.

The data which is input into the mathematical model can be any datawhich is representative of the expression level of the product of thebiomarkers being evaluated. Mathematical models useful in accordancewith the invention include those using both supervised or unsupervisedlearning. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mathematicalmodel chosen uses supervised learning in conjunction with a “trainingpopulation” to evaluate each of the possible combination of biomarkersof the invention. In one embodiment of the invention, the mathematicalmodel used is selected from the following: a regression model, alogistic regression model, a neural network, a clustering model,principal component analysis, nearest neighbour classifier analysis,linear discriminant analysis, quadratic discriminant analysis, a supportvector machine, a decision tree, a genetic algorithm, classifieroptimization using bagging, classifier optimization using boosting,classifier optimization using the Random Subspace Method, a projectionpursuit, genetic programming and weighted voting. In a preferredembodiment, a logistic regression model is used. In another preferredembodiment, a neural network model is used.

The results of applying a mathematical model of the invention to thedata will generate one or more classifiers using one or more biomarkers.Classifiers generated can be used to diagnosis an unknown or testindividual. As would be understood by a person skilled in the art, theuse of the classifier depends upon the phenotypes of the population usedto generate the classifier and the mathematical model used. In oneembodiment, the diagnosis result from equations generated by logisticregression to answer one of the following questions: (a) does anindividual have schizophrenia, (b) does an individual have bipolardisorder or (c) is an individual “normal”. In yet another embodiment ofthe invention, the answer to any of the questions above may be an answerof non determinable.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention, each classifier isevaluated for its ability to properly characterize each individual ofthe training population using those methods known to a person skilled inthe art. For example one can evaluate the classifier using crossvalidation, Leave One out Cross Validation (LOOCV), n-fold crossvalidation, jackknife analysis using standard statistical methods asdisclosed. In an even more preferred embodiment of the invention, eachclassifier is evaluated for its ability to properly characterize thoseindividuals of the training population which were not used to generatethe classifier.

In one embodiment, the method used to evaluate the classifier for itsability to properly characterize each individual of the trainingpopulation is a method which evaluates the models sensitivity (TPF, truepositive fraction) and 1-specificity (TNF, true negative fraction). In apreferred embodiment, the method used to test the model is ReceiverOperating Characteristic (“ROC”) which provides several parameters toevaluate both the sensitivity and specificity of the diagnostic resultof the equation generated. In a particularly preferred embodiment, theROC area (area under the curve) is used to evaluate the equations. A ROCarea greater than 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9 is preferred. A perfect ROCarea score of 1.0 indicates with both 100% sensitivity and 100%specificity.

As would be understood by a person skilled in the art, the utility ofthe combinations and equations determined by a mathematical model willdepend upon the phenotypes of the populations used to generate the datafor input into the model. Examples of specific embodiments are describedmore thoroughly herein.

5.8 Populations for Input into the Mathematical Models

Populations used for input should be chosen so as to result instatistically significant resulting biomarker combinations. In someembodiments, the reference or training population includes between 10and 30 subjects. In another embodiment the reference population containsbetween 30-50 subjects. In still other embodiments, the referencepopulation includes two or more populations each containing between 50and 100, 100 and 500, between 500 and 1000, or more than 1000 subjects.The reference population includes two or more subpopulations. In apreferred embodiment, the phenotypic characteristics of thesubpopulations are similar but for the diagnosis with respect toschizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder, for example the subpopulationsare of a similar age and sex. It is also preferred that thesubpopulations are of roughly equivalent numbers.

For example, for populations for input into a binary mathematical modelto identify those biomarkers which are useful in diagnosing anindividual as having schizophrenia, or not having schizophrenia, thereference population is comprised of individuals having schizophrenia(the first subpopulation), and individuals not have schizophrenia (thesecond subpopulation). For purposes of characterizing the subpopulationsas having or not having schizophrenia, any verified method can be used.Preferably only those individuals whose diagnoses are certain areutilized as part of the reference population.

In another embodiment, populations for input into a binary mathematicalmodel to identify those biomarkers which are useful in diagnosing anindividual as having bipolar disorder, or not having bipolar disorderare used. The reference population is comprised of individuals havingbipolar disorder (the first subpopulation), and individuals not havebipolar disorder (the second subpopulation). For purposes ofcharacterizing the subpopulations as having or not having bipolardisorder, any verified method can be used. Preferably only thoseindividuals whose diagnoses are certain are utilized as part of thereference population.

In another embodiment, populations for input into a binary mathematicalmodel to identify those biomarkers which are useful in diagnosing anindividual as having either bipolar disorder, or having schizophreniaare used. The reference population is comprised of individuals havingbipolar disorder (the first subpopulation), and individuals havingschizophrenia (the second subpopulation). For purposes of characterizingthe subpopulations having schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, anyverified method can be used. Preferably only those individuals whosediagnoses are certain are utilized as part of the reference population.

In another embodiment, populations for input into a non-binarymathematical model is used to identify those biomarkers which are usefulin diagnosing an individual as having either bipolar disorder, or havingschizophrenia. The reference population is comprised of individualshaving bipolar disorder (the first subpopulation), individuals havingschizophrenia (the second subpopulation) and individuals having neither(the third subpopulation). For purposes of characterizing thesubpopulations having schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, or neither anyverified method can be used. Preferably only those individuals whosediagnosis are certain are utilized as part of the reference population.

5.9 Data for Input into the Mathematical Models to Identify Classifiersfor Diagnosis

Data for input into the mathematical models is data representative ofthe level of gene expression of the products of the biomarkers of theinvention. As such the data is the measure of the products of thebiomarkers of the invention including either mRNA and/or proteinexpression.

In one embodiment of the invention, the RNA products of the biomarkersof the invention which are measured are the population of RNA productsincluding the mRNA, and all of the spliced variants of the mRNA. Inanother embodiment of the invention the products measured are the mRNAexpressed in blood. In yet another embodiment of the invention, theproducts measured one or more specific spliced variants of the mRNAwhich are expressed in blood. In yet another embodiment of theinvention, the products measured are the RNA products listed in Table 2.

Protein products of the biomarkers of the invention are also includedwithin the scope of the invention. To practice the invention,measurement of the protein products of the biomarkers of the inventioncan be used for purposes of diagnosis. More particularly, measurement ofthose populations of protein products of the biomarkers which aredifferentially expressed during schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorderare useful for purposes of diagnosis and are encompassed herein.

In one embodiment of the invention the protein products are thosetranslated from the biomarkers listed in Table 1. In another embodiment,the protein products are those which are expressed in blood. In yetanother embodiment of the invention, the protein products are thosecorresponding to the proteins listed in Table 2.

In yet another embodiment, data reflective of the level of expression ofa combination of protein products and RNA products of the biomarkers areused. As would be understood by a person skilled in the art, othercombinations of input data can be utilized to generate classifiersuseful in accordance with the invention.

5.10 Mathematical Models

Regression Models

In some embodiments the expression data for some or all of thebiomarkers identified in the present invention are used in a regressionmodel, preferably a logistic regression model so as to identifyclassifiers useful in diagnosing schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder.The regression model is used to test various combinations of two or moreof the biomarkers identified in Table 1 to generate classifiers. In thecase of regression models, the classifiers which result are in the formof equations where the data representing the expression of each of thebiomarkers in the equation is multiplied by a weighted coefficient asgenerated by the regression model. The classifiers generated can be usedto analyze expression data from a test individual and provide adiagnosis. In general, the multiple regression equation of interest canbe writtenY=α+β ₁ X ₁+β₂ X ₂+ . . . +β_(k) X _(k)+εwhere Y, the dependent variable, is present (when Y is positive) orabsent (when Y is negative) of the biological feature (e.g., absence orpresence of schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder) associated with thefirst subgroup. This model says that the dependent variable Y depends onk explanatory variables (the measured characteristic values for the kselect genes (e.g. the biomarkers) from subjects in the first and secondsubgroups in the reference population), plus an error term thatencompasses various unspecified omitted factors. In the above-identifiedmodel, the parameter β₁ gauges the effect of the first explanatoryvariable X₁ on the dependent variable Y (e.g. a weighting factor),holding the other explanatory variables constant. Similarly, β₂ givesthe effect of the explanatory variable X₂ on Y, holding the remainingexplanatory variables constant.

The logistic regression model is a non-linear transformation of thelinear regression. The logistic regression model is termed the “logit”model and can be expressed asln[p/(1−p)]=α+β₁ X ₁+β₂ X ₂+ . . . +β_(k) X _(k)+ε or[p/(1−p)]=exp^(α)exp^(β) ¹ ^(X) ¹ exp^(β) ² ^(X) ² × . . . ×exp^(β) ^(k)^(X) ^(k) exp^(ε)where,

where α and ε are constants

ln is the natural logarithm, log^(exp), where exp=2.71828 . . .

p is the probability that the event Y occurs, p(Y=1),

p/(1−p) is the “odds ratio”,

ln[p/(1−p)] is the log odds ratio, or “logit”, and

all other components of the model are the same as the general regressionequation described above. It will be appreciated by those of skill inthe art that the term for α and ε can be folded into the same constant.Indeed, in preferred embodiments, a single term is used to represent αand ε. The “logistic” distribution is an S-shaped distribution function.The logit distribution constrains the estimated probabilities (p) to liebetween 0 and 1.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the logistic regressionmodel is fit by maximum likelihood estimation (MLE). In other words, thecoefficients (e.g., α, β₁, β₂, . . . ) are determined by maximumlikelihood. A likelihood is a conditional probability (e.g., P(Y|X), theprobability of Y given X). The likelihood function (L) measures theprobability of observing the particular set of dependent variable values(Y₁, Y₂, . . . , Y_(n)) that occur in the sample data set. It is writtenas the probability of the product of the dependent variables:L=Prob(Y ₁ *Y ₂ ***Y _(n))The higher the likelihood function, the higher the probability ofobserving the Ys in the sample. MLE involves finding the coefficients(α, β₁, β₂, . . . ) that makes the log of the likelihood function (LL<0)as large as possible or −2 times the log of the likelihood function(−2LL) as small as possible. In MLE, some initial estimates of theparameters α, β₁, β₂, . . . are made. Then the likelihood of the datagiven these parameter estimates is computed. The parameter estimates areimproved the likelihood of the data is recalculated. This process isrepeated until the parameter estimates do not change much (for example,a change of less than 0.01 or 0.001 in the probability). Examples oflogistic regression and fitting logistic logistic regression models arefound in Hastie, The Elements of Statistical Learning, Springer, N.Y.,2001, pp. 95-100 which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

Neural Networks

In another embodiment, the expression measured for each of thebiomarkers of the present invention can be used to train a neuralnetwork. A neural network is a two-stage regression or classificationmodel. A neural network can be binary or non binary. A neural networkhas a layered structure that includes a layer of input units (and thebias) connected by a layer of weights to a layer of output units. Forregression, the layer of output units typically includes just one outputunit. However, neural networks can handle multiple quantitativeresponses in a seamless fashion. As such a neural network can be appliedto allow identification of biomarkers which differentiate as betweenmore than two populations. In one specific example, a neural network canbe trained using expression data from the biomarkers in Table 1 toidentify those combinations of biomarkers which are specific forschizophrenia as compared with not having schizophrenia. As a result,the trained neural network can be used to directly identify combinationof biomarkers useful as schizophrenia diagnostic biomarkers. In someembodiments, the back-propagation neural network (see, for example Abdi,1994, “A neural network primer”, J. Biol System. 2, 247-283) containinga single hidden layer of ten neurons (ten hidden units) found inEasyNN-Plus version 4.0 g software package (Neural Planner SoftwareInc.) is used.

Neural networks are described in Duda et al., 2001, PatternClassification, Second Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York; andHastie et al., 2001, The Elements of Statistical Learning,Springer-Verlag, New York which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

Other Mathematical Models

The pattern classification and statistical techniques described aboveare merely examples of the types of models that can be used to constructclassifiers useful for diagnosing schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder,for example clustering as described on pages 211-256 of Duda and Hart,Pattern Classification and Scene Analysis, 1973, John Wiley & Sons,Inc., New York, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety;Principal component analysis, (see for Jolliffe, 1986, PrincipalComponent Analysis, Springer, N.Y., incorporated herein by reference);nearest neighbour classifier analysis, (see for example Duda, PatternClassification, Second Edition, 2001, John Wiley & Sons, Inc; andHastie, 2001, The Elements of Statistical Learning, Springer, N.Y.);linear discriminant analysis, (see for example Duda, PatternClassification, Second Edition, 2001, John Wiley & Sons, Inc; andHastie, 2001, The Elements of Statistical Learning, Springer, N.Y.;Venables & Ripley, 1997, Modern Applied Statistics with s-plus,Springer, N.Y.); Support Vector Machines (see, for example, Cristianiniand Shawe-Taylor, 2000, An Introduction to Support Vector Machines,Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, Boser et al., 1992, “A trainingalgorithm for optimal margin classifiers, in Proceedings of the 5^(th)Annual ACM Workshop on Computational Learning Theory, ACM Press,Pittsburgh, Pa., pp. 142-152; Vapnik, 1998, Statistical Learning Theory,Wiley, New York, incorporated herein by reference.)

5.8 Use of the Biomarkers of the Invention for Diagnosis

As would be understood by a person skilled in the art, theidentification of one or more biomarkers can be used to allow thediagnosis of schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder by measuring theexpression of the products of the biomarkers (gene) in an individual tobe diagnosed (the “test individual”).

In one embodiment, the results from the test individual are comparedwith the a control wherein the control can be results from one or moreindividuals having schizophrenia and/or one or more individuals nothaving schizophrenia. In another embodiment the results from the testindividual are compared with both a control population having bipolardisorder and a control population not having bipolar disorder.

In another embodiment, one can input expression data of the expressionof the products of the biomarkers of the test individual into aclassifier of the invention resulting in a determination of whether saidtest individual has schizophrenia or has bipolar disorder. In apreferred embodiment, one would use the same classifier used to generatethe biomarkers as to diagnose an individual, but this is not necessary.Data representative of the RNA or protein products of the biomarkers ofthe invention is input into a classifier of the invention so as todetermine a diagnosis. The data can be generated using any techniqueknown to measure the level of expression of either the RNA and proteinproducts of the biomarkers of the invention.

In one embodiment, use of the classifier results in a determination ofwhether the test individual has schizophrenia or does not haveschizophrenia. For example, using logistic regression as the model, Y isused as a predictor of schizophrenia, where when Y>0 a person isdiagnosed as having schizophrenia and where Y<0, a person is diagnosedas not having schizophrenia. In yet another embodiment, one can alsoinclude a third category of prediction wherein diagnosis isindeterminable. For example, one can determine the standard deviationinherent within the methodology used to measure gene expression of thebiomarkers (δ). If Y<δ but >0 or Y>−δ but <0, then the diagnosis isconsidered indeterminable.

5.11 Polynucleotides Used to Measure the Products of the Biomarkers ofthe Invention

Polynucleotides capable of specifically or selectively binding to theRNA products of the biomarkers of the invention are used to measure thelevel of expression of the biomarkers. For example: oligonucleotides,cDNA, DNA, RNA, PCR products, synthetic DNA, synthetic RNA, or othercombinations of naturally occurring or modified nucleotides whichspecifically and/or selectively hybridize to one or more of the RNAproducts of the biomarker of the invention are useful in accordance withthe invention.

In a preferred embodiment, the oligonucleotides, cDNA, DNA, RNA, PCRproducts, synthetic DNA, synthetic RNA, or other combinations ofnaturally occurring or modified nucleotides oligonucleotides which bothspecifically and selectively hybridize to one or more of the RNAproducts of the biomarker of the invention are used.

5.12 Techniques to Measure the RNA Products of the Biomarkers of theInvention

5.12.1 Array Hybridization

In one embodiment of the invention, the polynucleotide used to measurethe RNA products of the invention can be used as nucleic acid membersstably associated with a support to comprise an array according to oneaspect of the invention. The length of a nucleic acid member can rangefrom 8 to 1000 nucleotides in length and are chosen so as to be specificfor the RNA products of the biomarkers of the invention. In oneembodiment, these members are selective for the RNA products of thebiomarkers of the invention. The nucleic acid members may be single ordouble stranded, and/or may be oligonucleotides or PCR fragmentsamplified from cDNA. Preferably oligonucleotides are approximately 20-30nucleotides in length. ESTs are preferably 100 to 600 nucleotides inlength. It will be understood to a person skilled in the art that onecan utilize portions of the expressed regions of the biomarkers of theinvention as a probe on the array. More particularly oligonucleotidescomplementary to the genes of the invention and or cDNA or ESTs derivedfrom the genes of the invention are useful. For oligonucleotide basedarrays, the selection of oligonucleotides corresponding to the gene ofinterest which are useful as probes is well understood in the art. Moreparticularly it is important to choose regions which will permithybridization to the target nucleic acids. Factors such as the Tm of theoligonucleotide, the percent GC content, the degree of secondarystructure and the length of nucleic acid are important factors. See forexample U.S. Pat. No. 6,551,784.

Construction of a Nucleic Acid Array

In the subject methods, an array of nucleic acid members stablyassociated with the surface of a substantially support is contacted witha sample comprising target nucleic acids under hybridization conditionssufficient to produce a hybridization pattern of complementary nucleicacid members/target complexes in which one or more complementary nucleicacid members at unique positions on the array specifically hybridize totarget nucleic acids. The identity of target nucleic acids whichhybridize can be determined with reference to location of nucleic acidmembers on the array.

The nucleic acid members may be produced using established techniquessuch as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse transcription (RT).These methods are similar to those currently known in the art (see e.g.,PCR Strategies, Michael A. Innis (Editor), et al. (1995) and PCR:Introduction to Biotechniques Series, C. R. Newton, A. Graham (1997)).Amplified nucleic acids are purified by methods well known in the art(e.g., column purification or alcohol precipitation). A nucleic acid isconsidered pure when it has been isolated so as to be substantially freeof primers and incomplete products produced during the synthesis of thedesired nucleic acid. Preferably, a purified nucleic acid will also besubstantially free of contaminants which may hinder or otherwise maskthe specific binding activity of the molecule.

An array, according to one aspect of the invention, comprises aplurality of nucleic acids attached to one surface of a support at adensity exceeding 20 different nucleic acids/cm², wherein each of thenucleic acids is attached to the surface of the support in anon-identical pre-selected region (e.g. a microarray). Each associatedsample on the array comprises a nucleic acid composition, of knownidentity, usually of known sequence, as described in greater detailbelow. Any conceivable substrate may be employed in the invention.

In one embodiment, the nucleic acid attached to the surface of thesupport is DNA. In a preferred embodiment, the nucleic acid attached tothe surface of the support is cDNA or RNA. In another preferredembodiment, the nucleic acid attached to the surface of the support iscDNA synthesized by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Preferably, anucleic acid member in the array, according to the invention, is atleast 10, 25 or 50 nucleotides in length. In one embodiment, a nucleicacid member is at least 150 nucleotides in length. Preferably, a nucleicacid member is less than 1000 nucleotides in length. More preferably, anucleic acid member is less than 500 nucleotides in length.

In the arrays of the invention, the nucleic acid compositions are stablyassociated with the surface of a support, where the support may be aflexible or rigid support. By “stably associated” is meant that eachnucleic acid member maintains a unique position relative to the supportunder hybridization and washing conditions. As such, the samples arenon-covalently or covalently stably associated with the support surface.Examples of non-covalent association include non-specific adsorption,binding based on electrostatic interactions (e.g., ion pairinteractions), hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bonding interactions,specific binding through a specific binding pair member covalentlyattached to the support surface, and the like. Examples of covalentbinding include covalent bonds formed between the nucleic acids and afunctional group present on the surface of the rigid support (e.g.,—OH), where the functional group may be naturally occurring or presentas a member of an introduced linking group, as described in greaterdetail below

The amount of nucleic acid present in each composition will besufficient to provide for adequate hybridization and detection of targetnucleic acid sequences during the assay in which the array is employed.Generally, the amount of each nucleic acid member stably associated withthe support of the array is at least about 0.001 ng, preferably at leastabout 0.02 ng and more preferably at least about 0.05 ng, where theamount may be as high as 1000 ng or higher, but will usually not exceedabout 20 ng. Where the nucleic acid member is “spotted” onto the supportin a spot comprising an overall circular dimension, the diameter of the“spot” will generally range from about 10 to 5,000 μm, usually fromabout 20 to 2,000 μm and more usually from about 100 to 200 μm.

Control nucleic acid members may be present on the array includingnucleic acid members comprising oligonucleotides or nucleic acidscorresponding to genomic DNA, housekeeping genes, vector sequences,plant nucleic acid sequence, negative and positive control genes, andthe like. Control nucleic acid members are calibrating or control geneswhose function is not to tell whether a particular “key” gene ofinterest is expressed, but rather to provide other useful information,such as background or basal level of expression.

Other control nucleic acids are spotted on the array and used as targetexpression control nucleic acids and mismatch control nucleotides tomonitor non-specific binding or cross-hybridization to a nucleic acid inthe sample other than the target to which the probe is directed.Mismatch probes thus indicate whether a hybridization is specific ornot. For example, if the target is present, the perfectly matched probesshould be consistently brighter than the mismatched probes. In addition,if all control mismatches are present, the mismatch probes are used todetect a mutation.

Spotting Method

In one aspect, the invention provides for arrays where each nucleic acidmember comprising the array is spotted onto a support.

Preferably, spotting is carried out as follows. PCR products (˜40 ul)biomarkers of the invention, in the same 96-well tubes used foramplification, are precipitated with 4 ul (1/10 volume) of 3M sodiumacetate (pH 5.2) and 100 ul (2.5 volumes) of ethanol and storedovernight at −20° C. They are then centrifuged at 3,300 rpm at 4° C. for1 hour. The obtained pellets are washed with 50 ul ice-cold 70% ethanoland centrifuged again for 30 minutes. The pellets are then air-dried andresuspended well in 20 ul 3×SSC or in 50% dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO)overnight. The samples are then spotted, either singly or in duplicate,onto slides using a robotic GMS 417 or 427 arrayer (Affymetrix, Ca).

The boundaries of the spots on the microarray may be marked with adiamond scriber (as the spots become invisible after post-processing).The arrays are rehydrated by suspending the slides over a dish of warmparticle free ddH₂O for approximately one minute (the spots will swellslightly but will not run into each other) and snap-dried on a 70-80° C.inverted heating block for 3 seconds. Nucleic acid is then UVcrosslinked to the slide (Stratagene, Stratalinker, 65 mJ—set display to“650” which is 650×100 uJ) or the array is baked at 80 C for two to fourhours prior to hybridization. The arrays are placed in a slide rack. Anempty slide chamber is prepared and filled with the following solution:3.0 grams of succinic anhydride (Aldrich) was dissolved in 189 ml of1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (rapid addition of reagent is crucial);immediately after the last flake of succinic anhydride is dissolved,−21.0 ml of 0.2 M sodium borate is mixed in and the solution is pouredinto the slide chamber. The slide rack is plunged rapidly and evenly inthe slide chamber and vigorously shaken up and down for a few seconds,making sure the slides never leave the solution, and then mixed on anorbital shaker for 15-20 minutes. The slide rack is then gently plungedin 95° C. ddH₂O for 2 minutes, followed by plunging five times in 95%ethanol. The slides are then air dried by allowing excess ethanol todrip onto paper towels. The arrays are stored in the slide box at roomtemperature until use.

Numerous methods may be used for attachment of the nucleic acid membersof the invention to the substrate (a process referred to as “spotting”).For example, nucleic acids are attached using the techniques of, forexample U.S. Pat. No. 5,807,522, which is incorporated herein byreference, for teaching methods of polymer attachment.

Alternatively, spotting may be carried out using contact printingtechnology as is known in the art.

Use of a Microarray

Nucleic acid arrays according to the invention can be used to assaynucleic acids in a sample comprising one or more target nucleic acidsequences. The arrays of the subject invention find use in a variety ofapplications diagnosis of schizophrenia, screening for therapeutictargets and the like.

The arrays are also useful in broad scale expression screening for drugdiscovery and research, such as the effect of a particular active agenton the expression pattern of biomarkers of the invention, where suchinformation is used to reveal drug efficacy and toxicity, environmentalmonitoring, disease research and the like.

Arrays can be made using at least one, more preferably a combination ofthese sequences, as a means of diagnosing schizophrenia.

The choice of a standard sample would be well understood by a personskilled in the art, and would include a sample complementary to RNAisolated from one or more normal individuals, wherein a normalindividual is an individual not having schizophrenia or bipolardisorder.

Preparation of Nucleic Acid Sample for Hybridization to an Array

The samples for hybridization with the arrays according to the inventionare preferably derived from total RNA from blood. In another embodiment,targets for the arrays are derived from mRNA from blood

The nucleic acid sample is capable of binding to a nucleic acid memberof complementary sequence through one or more types of chemical bonds,usually through complementary base pairing, usually through hydrogenbond formation.

As used herein, a “nucleic acid derived from an mRNA transcript: or a“nucleic acid corresponding to an mRNA” refers to a nucleic acid forwhich synthesis of the mRNA transcript or a sub-sequence thereof hasultimately served as a template. Thus, a cDNA reverse transcribed froman mRNA, an RNA transcribed from that cDNA, a DNA amplified from thecDNA, an RNA transcribed from the amplified DNA, etc., are all derivedfrom or correspond to the mRNA transcript and detection of such derivedor corresponding products is indicative of or proportional to thepresence and/or abundance of the original transcript in a sample. Thus,suitable nucleic acid samples include, but are not limited to, mRNAtranscripts of a gene or genes, cDNA reverse transcribed from the mRNA,cRNA transcribed from the cDNA, DNA amplified from a gene or genes, RNAtranscribed from amplified DNA, and the like. The nucleic acid samplesused herein are preferably derived from blood. Nucleic acids can besingle- or double-stranded DNA, RNA, or DNA-RNA hybrids synthesized fromhuman blood using methods known in the art, for example, reversetranscription or PCR.

In the simplest embodiment, such a nucleic acid sample comprises totalmRNA or a nucleic acid sample corresponding to mRNA (e.g., cDNA)isolated from blood samples. In another embodiment, total mRNA isisolated from a given sample using, for example, an acidguanidinium-phenol-chloroform extraction method and polyA+ mRNA isisolated by oligo dT column chromatography or by using (dT)n magneticbeads (see, e.g., Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A LaboratoryManual (2nd ed.), Vols. 1-3, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, (1989), orCurrent Protocols in Molecular Biology, F. Ausubel et al., ed. GreenePublishing and Wiley-Interscience, New York (1987). In a preferredembodiment, total RNA is extracted using TRIzol® reagent (GIBCO/BRL,Invitrogen Life Technologies, Cat. No. 15596). Purity and integrity ofRNA is assessed by absorbance at 260/280 nm and agarose gelelectrophoresis followed by inspection under ultraviolet light.

In some embodiments, it is desirable to amplify the nucleic acid sampleprior to hybridization, for example, when only limited amounts of samplecan be used (e.g. drop of blood). One of skill in the art willappreciate that whatever amplification method is used, if a quantitativeresult is desired, care must be taken to use a method that maintains orcontrols for the relative frequencies of the amplified nucleic acids.Methods of “quantitative” amplification are well known to those of skillin the art. For example, quantitative PCR involves simultaneouslyco-amplifying a known quantity of a control sequence using the sameprimers. This provides an internal standard that may be used tocalibrate the PCR reaction. The high density array may then includeprobes specific to the internal standard for quantification of theamplified nucleic acid. Detailed protocols for quantitative PCR areprovided in PCR Protocols, A Guide to Methods and Applications, Innis etal., Academic Press, Inc. N.Y., (1990).

Other suitable amplification methods include, but are not limited topolymerase chain reaction (PCR) (Innis, et al., PCR Protocols. A Guideto Methods and Application. Academic Press, Inc. San Diego, (1990)),ligase chain reaction (LCR) (see Wu and Wallace, 1989, Genomics, 4:560;Landegren, et al., 1988, Science, 241:1077 and Barringer, et al., 1990,Gene, 89:117, transcription amplification (Kwoh, et al., 1989, Proc.Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 86: 1173), and self-sustained sequence replication(Guatelli, et al., 1990, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA, 87: 1874).

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the nucleic acid sample mRNA isreverse transcribed with a reverse transcriptase and a primer consistingof oligo dT and a sequence encoding the phage T7 promoter to providesingle-stranded DNA template. The second DNA strand is polymerized usinga DNA polymerase. After synthesis of double-stranded cDNA, T7 RNApolymerase is added and RNA is transcribed from the cDNA template.Successive rounds of transcription from each single cDNA templateresults in amplified RNA. Methods of in vitro transcription are wellknown to those of skill in the art (see, e.g., Sambrook, supra.) andthis particular method is described in detail by Van Gelder, et al.,1990, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 87: 1663-1667 who demonstrate that invitro amplification according to this method preserves the relativefrequencies of the various RNA transcripts. Moreover, Eberwine et al.Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 89: 3010-3014 provide a protocol that usestwo rounds of amplification via in vitro transcription to achievegreater than 106 fold amplification of the original starting materialthereby permitting expression monitoring even where biological samplesare limited.

Labeling of Nucleic Acid Sample or Nucleic Acid Probe.

Nucleic acid samples are labelled so as to allow detection ofhybridization to an array of the invention. Any analytically detectablemarker that is attached to or incorporated into a molecule may be usedin the invention. An analytically detectable marker refers to anymolecule, moiety or atom which is analytically detected and quantified.

Detectable labels suitable for use in the present invention include anycomposition detectable by spectroscopic, photochemical, biochemical,immunochemical, electrical, optical or chemical means. Useful labels inthe present invention include biotin for staining with labeledstreptavidin conjugate, magnetic beads (e.g., Dynabeads™), fluorescentdyes (e.g., fluorescein, texas red, rhodamine, green fluorescentprotein, and the like), radiolabels (e.g., ³H, ¹²⁵I, 35S, ¹⁴C, or ³²P),enzymes (e.g., horse radish peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase and otherscommonly used in an ELISA), and colorimetric labels such as colloidalgold or colored glass or plastic (e.g., polystyrene, polypropylene,latex, etc.) beads. Patents teaching the use of such labels include U.S.Pat. Nos. 3,817,837; 3,850,752; 3,939,350; 3,996,345; 4,277,437;4,275,149; and 4,366,241, the entireties of which are incorporated byreference herein.

Means of detecting such labels are well known to those of skill in theart. Thus, for example, radiolabels may be detected using photographicfilm or scintillation counters, fluorescent markers may be detectedusing a photodetector to detect emitted light. Enzymatic labels aretypically detected by providing the enzyme with a substrate anddetecting the reaction product produced by the action of the enzyme onthe substrate, and colorimetric labels are detected by simplyvisualizing the colored label.

The labels may be incorporated by any of a number of means well known tothose of skill in the art. However, in a preferred embodiment, the labelis simultaneously incorporated during the amplification step in thepreparation of the sample nucleic acids. Thus, for example, polymerasechain reaction (PCR) with labeled primers or labeled nucleotides willprovide a labeled amplification product. In a preferred embodiment,transcription amplification, as described above, using a labelednucleotide (e.g. fluorescein-labeled UTP and/or CTP) incorporates alabel into the transcribed nucleic acids.

Alternatively, a label may be added directly to the original nucleicacid sample (e.g., mRNA, polyA mRNA, cDNA, etc.) or to the amplificationproduct after the amplification is completed. Means of attaching labelsto nucleic acids are well known to those of skill in the art andinclude, for example, nick translation or end-labeling (e.g. with alabeled RNA) by kinasing of the nucleic acid and subsequent attachment(ligation) of a nucleic acid linker joining the sample nucleic acid to alabel (e.g., a fluorophore).

In a preferred embodiment, the fluorescent modifications are by cyaninedyes e.g. Cy-3/Cy-5 dUTP, Cy-3/Cy-5 dCTP (Amersham Pharmacia) or alexadyes (Khan, et al., 1998, Cancer Res. 58:5009-5013).

In a preferred embodiment, the two Nucleic Acid Sample samples used forcomparison are labeled with different fluorescent dyes which producedistinguishable detection signals, for example, nucleic acid samplesmade from normal brain cells are labeled with Cy5 and nucleic acidsamples made from brain tissue cells are labeled with Cy3. Thedifferently labeled target samples are hybridized to the same microarraysimultaneously. In a preferred embodiment, the labeled nucleic acidsamples are purified using methods known in the art, e.g., by ethanolpurification or column purification.

In a preferred embodiment, the nucleic acid samples will include one ormore control molecules which hybridize to control probes on themicroarray to normalize signals generated from the microarray.Preferably, labeled normalization nucleic acid samples are nucleic acidsequences that are perfectly complementary to control oligonucleotidesthat are spotted onto the microarray as described above. The signalsobtained from the normalization controls after hybridization provide acontrol for variations in hybridization conditions, label intensity,“reading” efficiency and other factors that may cause the signal of aperfect hybridization to vary between arrays. In a preferred embodiment,signals (e.g., fluorescence intensity) read from all other probes in thearray are divided by the signal (e.g., fluorescence intensity) from thecontrol probes, thereby normalizing the measurements.

Preferred normalization nucleic acid samples are selected to reflect theaverage length of the other nucleic acid samples present in the sample,however, they are selected to cover a range of lengths. Thenormalization control(s) also can be selected to reflect the (average)base composition of the other probes in the array, however, in apreferred embodiment, only one or a few normalization probes are usedand they are selected such that they hybridize well (i.e., have nosecondary structure and do not self hybridize) and do not match anynucleic acids on the array.

Normalization probes are localized at any position in the array or atmultiple positions throughout the array to control for spatial variationin hybridization efficiency. In a preferred embodiment, normalizationcontrols are located at the corners or edges of the array as well as inthe middle.

Hybridization Conditions

Nucleic acid hybridization involves providing a nucleic acid sampleunder conditions where the sample and the complementary nucleic acidmember can form stable hybrid duplexes through complementary basepairing. The nucleic acids that do not form hybrid duplexes are thenwashed away leaving the hybridized nucleic acids to be detected,typically through detection of an attached detectable label. It isgenerally recognized that nucleic acids are denatured by increasing thetemperature or decreasing the salt concentration of the buffercontaining the nucleic acids. Under low stringency conditions (e.g., lowtemperature and/or high salt) hybrid duplexes (e.g., DNA:DNA, RNA:RNA,or RNA:DNA) will form even where the annealed sequences are notperfectly complementary. Thus specificity of hybridization is reduced atlower stringency. Conversely, at higher stringency (e.g., highertemperature or lower salt) successful hybridization requires fewermismatches.

The invention provides for hybridization conditions comprising the Dighybridization mix (Boehringer); or formamide-based hybridizationsolutions, for example as described in Ausubel et al., supra andSambrook et al. supra.

Methods of optimizing hybridization conditions are well known to thoseof skill in the art (see, e.g., Laboratory Techniques in Biochemistryand Molecular Biology, Vol. 24: Hybridization With Nucleic acid Probes,P. Tijssen, ed. Elsevier, N.Y., (1993)).

Following hybridization, non-hybridized labeled or unlabeled nucleicacid is removed from the support surface, conveniently by washing,thereby generating a pattern of hybridized target nucleic acid on thesubstrate surface. A variety of wash solutions are known to those ofskill in the art and may be used. The resultant hybridization patternsof labeled, hybridized oligonucleotides and/or nucleic acids may bevisualized or detected in a variety of ways, with the particular mannerof detection being chosen based on the particular label of the testnucleic acid, where representative detection means include scintillationcounting, autoradiography, fluorescence measurement, calorimetricmeasurement, light emission measurement and the like.

Image Acquisition and Data Analysis

Following hybridization and any washing step(s) and/or subsequenttreatments, as described above, the resultant hybridization pattern isdetected. In detecting or visualizing the hybridization pattern, theintensity or signal value of the label will be not only be detected butquantified, by which is meant that the signal from each spot of thehybridization will be measured and compared to a unit valuecorresponding to the signal emitted by a known number of end labeledtarget nucleic acids to obtain a count or absolute value of the copynumber of each end-labeled target that is hybridized to a particularspot on the array in the hybridization pattern.

Methods for analyzing the data collected from hybridization to arraysare well known in the art. For example, where detection of hybridizationinvolves a fluorescent label, data analysis can include the steps ofdetermining fluorescent intensity as a function of substrate positionfrom the data collected, removing outliers, i.e., data deviating from apredetermined statistical distribution, and calculating the relativebinding affinity of the test nucleic acids from the remaining data. Theresulting data is displayed as an image with the intensity in eachregion varying according to the binding affinity between associatedoligonucleotides and/or nucleic acids and the test nucleic acids.

The following detection protocol is used for the simultaneous analysisof two samples to be compared, where each sample is labeled with adifferent fluorescent dye.

Each element of the microarray is scanned for the first fluorescentcolor. The intensity of the fluorescence at each array element isproportional to the expression level of that gene in the sample.

The scanning operation is repeated for the second fluorescent label. Theratio of the two fluorescent intensities provides a highly accurate andquantitative measurement of the relative gene expression level in thetwo samples.

In a preferred embodiment, fluorescence intensities of immobilizednucleic acid sequences were determined from images taken with a customconfocal microscope equipped with laser excitation sources andinterference filters appropriate for the Cy3 and Cy5 fluors. Separatescans were taken for each fluor at a resolution of 225 μm² per pixel and65,536 gray levels. Image segmentation to identify areas ofhybridization, normalization of the intensities between the two fluorimages, and calculation of the normalized mean fluorescent values ateach target are as described (Khan, et al., 1998, Cancer Res.58:5009-5013. Chen, et al., 1997, Biomed. Optics 2:364-374).Normalization between the images is used to adjust for the differentefficiencies in labeling and detection with the two different fluors.This is achieved by equilibrating to a value of one the signal intensityratio of a set of internal control genes spotted on the array.

In another preferred embodiment, the array is scanned in the Cy3 and Cy5channels and stored as separate 16-bit TIFF images. The images areincorporated and analysed using software which includes a griddingprocess to capture the hybridization intensity data from each spot onthe array. The fluorescence intensity and background-subtractedhybridization intensity of each spot is collected and a ratio ofmeasured mean intensities of Cy5 to Cy3 is calculated. A linearregression approach is used for normalization and assumes that a scatterplot of the measured Cy5 versus Cy3 intensities should have a slope ofone. The average of the ratios is calculated and used to rescale thedata and adjust the slope to one. A ratio of expression not equal to 1is used as an indication of differential gene expression.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, where it is desired to quantifythe transcription level (and thereby expression) of one or more nucleicacid sequences in a sample, the nucleic acid sample is one in which theconcentration of the mRNA transcript(s) of the gene or genes, or theconcentration of the nucleic acids derived from the mRNA transcript(s),is proportional to the transcription level (and therefore expressionlevel) of that gene. Similarly, it is preferred that the hybridizationsignal intensity be proportional to the amount of hybridized nucleicacid. While it is preferred that the proportionality be relativelystrict (e.g., a doubling in transcription rate results in a doubling inmRNA transcript in the sample nucleic acid pool and a doubling inhybridization signal), one of skill will appreciate that theproportionality can be more relaxed and even non-linear and stillprovide meaningful results. Thus, for example, an assay where a 5 folddifference in concentration of the sample mRNA results in a 3- to 6-folddifference in hybridization intensity is sufficient for most purposes.Where more precise quantification is required, appropriate controls arerun to correct for variations introduced in sample preparation andhybridization as described herein. In addition, serial dilutions of“standard” mRNA sampels are used to prepare calibration curves accordingto methods well known to those of skill in the art. Of course, wheresimple detection of the presence or absence of a transcript is desired,no elaborate control or calibration is required.

For example, if an nucleic acid member on an array is not labeled afterhybridization, this indicates that the gene comprising that nucleic acidmember is not expressed in either sample. If a nucleic acid member islabeled with a single color, it indicates that a labeled gene wasexpressed only in one sample. The labeling of a nucleic acid membercomprising an array with both colors indicates that the gene wasexpressed in both samples. Even genes expressed once per cell aredetected (1 part in 100,000 sensitivity). A difference in expressionintensity in the two samples being compared is indicative ofdifferential expression, the ratio of the intensity in the two samplesbeing not equal to 1.0, preferably less than 0.7 or greater than 1.2,more preferably less than 0.5 or greater than 1.5.

5.12.2 RT-PCR

In aspect of the invention, the level of the expression of the RNAproducts of the biomarkers of the invention can be measured byamplifying the RNA products of the biomarkers from a sample usingreverse transcription (RT) in combination with the polymerase chainreaction (PCR). In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, theRT can be quantitative as would be understood to a person skilled in theart.

Total RNA, or mRNA from a sample is used as a template and a primerspecific to the transcribed portion of a biomarker of the invention isused to initiate reverse transcription. Methods of reverse transcribingRNA into cDNA are well known and described in Sambrook et al., 1989,supra. Primer design can be accomplished utilizing commerciallyavailable software (e.g., Primer Designer 1.0, Scientific Sofware etc.).The product of the reverse transcription is subsequently used as atemplate for PCR.

PCR provides a method for rapidly amplifying a particular nucleic acidsequence by using multiple cycles of DNA replication catalyzed by athermostable, DNA-dependent DNA polymerase to amplify the targetsequence of interest. PCR requires the presence of a nucleic acid to beamplified, two single-stranded oligonucleotide primers flanking thesequence to be amplified, a DNA polymerase, deoxyribonucleosidetriphosphates, a buffer and salts.

The method of PCR is well known in the art. PCR, is performed asdescribed in Mullis and Faloona, 1987, Methods Enzymol., 155: 335, whichis incorporated herein by reference. PCR is performed using template DNA(at least lfg; more usefully, 1-1000 ng) and at least 25 μmol ofoligonucleotide primers. A typical reaction mixture includes: 2 μl ofDNA, 25 μmol of oligonucleotide primer, 2.5 μl of 10H PCR buffer 1(Perkin-Elmer, Foster City, Calif.), 0.4 μl of 1.25 μM dNTP, 0.15 μl (or2.5 units) of Taq DNA polymerase (Perkin Elmer, Foster City, Calif.) anddeionized water to a total volume of 25 μl. Mineral oil is overlaid andthe PCR is performed using a programmable thermal cycler.

The length and temperature of each step of a PCR cycle, as well as thenumber of cycles, are adjusted according to the stringency requirementsin effect. Annealing temperature and timing are determined both by theefficiency with which a primer is expected to anneal to a template andthe degree of mismatch that is to be tolerated. The ability to optimizethe stringency of primer annealing conditions is well within theknowledge of one of moderate skill in the art. An annealing temperatureof between 30° C. and 72° C. is used. Initial denaturation of thetemplate molecules normally occurs at between 92° C. and 99° C. for 4minutes, followed by 20-40 cycles consisting of denaturation (94-99° C.for 15 seconds to 1 minute), annealing (temperature determined asdiscussed above; 1-2 minutes), and extension (72° C. for 1 minute). Thefinal extension step is generally carried out for 4 minutes at 72° C.,and may be followed by an indefinite (0-24 hour) step at 4° C.

QRT-PCR (Quantitative RT-PCR), which is quantitative in nature, can alsobe performed to provide a quantitative measure of gene expressionlevels. In QRT-PCR reverse transcription and PCR can be performed in twosteps, or reverse transcription combined with PCR can be performedconcurrently. One of these techniques, for which there are commerciallyavailable kits such as Taqman (Perkin Elmer, Foster City, Calif.), isperformed with a transcript-specific antisense probe. This probe isspecific for the PCR product (e.g. a nucleic acid fragment derived froma gene) and is prepared with a quencher and fluorescent reporter probecomplexed to the 5′ end of the oligonucleotide. Different fluorescentmarkers are attached to different reporters, allowing for measurement oftwo products in one reaction. When Taq DNA polymerase is activated, itcleaves off the fluorescent reporters of the probe bound to the templateby virtue of its 5′-to-3′ exonuclease activity. In the absence of thequenchers, the reporters now fluoresce. The color change in thereporters is proportional to the amount of each specific product and ismeasured by a fluorometer; therefore, the amount of each color ismeasured and the PCR product is quantified. The PCR reactions can beperformed in 96 well plates, 384 well plates and the like so thatsamples derived from many individuals are processed and measuredsimultaneously. The Taqman system has the additional advantage of notrequiring gel electrophoresis and allows for quantification when usedwith a standard curve.

A second technique useful for detecting PCR products quantitativelywithout is to use an intercolating dye such as the commerciallyavailable QuantiTect SYBR Green PCR (Qiagen, Valencia Calif.). RT-PCR isperformed using SYBR green as a fluorescent label which is incorporatedinto the PCR product during the PCR stage and produces a flourescenseproportional to the amount of PCR product.

Both Taqman and QuantiTect SYBR systems can be used subsequent toreverse transcription of RNA. Reverse transcription can either beperformed in the same reaction mixture as the PCR step (one-stepprotocol) or reverse transcription can be performed first prior toamplification utilizing PCR (two-step protocol).

Additionally, other systems to quantitatively measure mRNA expressionproducts are known including Molecular Beacons® which uses a probehaving a fluorescent molecule and a quencher molecule, the probe capableof forming a hairpin structure such that when in the hairpin form, thefluorescence molecule is quenched, and when hybridized the flourescenseincreases giving a quantitative measurement of gene expression.

Additional techniques to quantitatively measure RNA expression include,but are not limited to, polymerase chain reaction, ligase chainreaction, Qbeta replicase (see, e.g., International Application No.PCT/US87/00880), isothermal amplification method (see, e.g., Walker etal. (1992) PNAS 89:382-396), strand displacement amplification (SDA),repair chain reaction, Asymmetric Quantitative PCR (see, e.g., U.S.Publication No. US200330134307A1) and the multiplex microsphere beadassay described in Fuja et al., 2004, Journal of Biotechnology108:193-205.

The level of gene expression can be measured by amplifying RNA from asample using transcription based amplification systems (TAS), includingnucleic acid sequence amplification (NASBA) and 3SR. See, e.g., Kwoh etal (1989) PNAS USA 86:1173; International Publication No. WO 88/10315;and U.S. Pat. No. 6,329,179. In NASBA, the nucleic acids may be preparedfor amplification using conventional phenol/chloroform extraction, heatdenaturation, treatment with lysis buffer and minispin columns forisolation of DNA and RNA or guanidinium chloride extraction of RNA.These amplification techniques involve annealing a primer that hastarget specific sequences. Following polymerization, DNA/RNA hybrids aredigested with RNase H while double stranded DNA molecules are heatdenatured again. In either case the single stranded DNA is made fullydouble stranded by addition of second target specific primer, followedby polymerization. The double-stranded DNA molecules are then multiplytranscribed by a polymerase such as T7 or SP6. In an isothermal cyclicreaction, the RNA's are reverse transcribed into double stranded DNA,and transcribed once with a polymerase such as T7 or SP6. The resultingproducts, whether truncated or complete, indicate target specificsequences.

Several techniques may be used to separate amplification products. Forexample, amplification products may be separated by agarose,agarose-acrylamide or polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis usingconventional methods. See Sambrook et al., 1989. Several techniques fordetecting PCR products quantitatively without electrophoresis may alsobe used according to the invention (see for example PCR Protocols, AGuide to Methods and Applications, Inis et al., Academic Press, Inc.N.Y., (1990)). For example, chromatographic techniques may be employedto effect separation. There are many kinds of chromatography which maybe used in the present invention: adsorption, partition, ion-exchangeand molecular sieve, HPLC, and many specialized techniques for usingthem including column, paper, thin-layer and gas chromatography(Freifelder, Physical Biochemistry Applications to Biochemistry andMolecular Biology, 2nd ed., Wm. Freeman and Co., New York, N.Y., 1982).

Another example of a separation methodology is done by covalentlylabeling the oligonucleotide primers used in a PCR reaction with varioustypes of small molecule ligands. In one such separation, a differentligand is present on each oligonucleotide. A molecule, perhaps anantibody or avidin if the ligand is biotin, that specifically binds toone of the ligands is used to coat the surface of a plate such as a 96well ELISA plate. Upon application of the PCR reactions to the surfaceof such a prepared plate, the PCR products are bound with specificity tothe surface. After washing the plate to remove unbound reagents, asolution containing a second molecule that binds to the first ligand isadded. This second molecule is linked to some kind of reporter system.The second molecule only binds to the plate if a PCR product has beenproduced whereby both oligonucleotide primers are incorporated into thefinal PCR products. The amount of the PCR product is then detected andquantified in a commercial plate reader much as ELISA reactions aredetected and quantified. An ELISA-like system such as the one describedhere has been developed by the Raggio Italgene company under the C-Tracktrade name.

Amplification products must be visualized in order to confirmamplification of the nucleic acid sequences of interest. One typicalvisualization method involves staining of a gel with ethidium bromideand visualization under UV light. Alternatively, if the amplificationproducts are integrally labeled with radio- or fluorometrically-labelednucleotides, the amplification products may then be exposed to x-rayfilm or visualized under the appropriate stimulating spectra, followingseparation.

In one embodiment, visualization is achieved indirectly. Followingseparation of amplification products, a labeled, nucleic acid probe isbrought into contact with the amplified nucleic acid sequence ofinterest. The probe preferably is conjugated to a chromophore but may beradiolabeled. In another embodiment, the probe is conjugated to abinding partner, such as an antibody or biotin, where the other memberof the binding pair carries a detectable moiety.

In another embodiment, detection is by Southern blotting andhybridization with a labeled probe. The techniques involved in Southernblotting are well known to those of skill in the art and may be found inmany standard books on molecular protocols. See Sambrook et al., 1989,supra. Briefly, amplification products are separated by gelelectrophoresis. The gel is then contacted with a membrane, such asnitrocellulose, permitting transfer of the nucleic acid and non-covalentbinding. Subsequently, the membrane is incubated with achromophore-conjugated probe that is capable of hybridizing with atarget amplification product. Detection is by exposure of the membraneto x-ray film or ion-emitting detection devices.

One example of the foregoing is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,721,incorporated by reference herein, which discloses an apparatus andmethod for the automated electrophoresis and transfer of nucleic acids.The apparatus permits electrophoresis and blotting without externalmanipulation of the gel and is ideally suited to carrying out methodsaccording to the present invention.

5.12.3 Nuclease Protection Assays

In another embodiment of the invention, Nuclease protection assays(including both ribonuclease protection assays and S1 nuclease assays)can be used to detect and quantitate the RNA products of the biomarkersof the invention. In nuclease protection assays, an antisense probe(labeled with, e.g., radiolabeled or nonisotopic) hybridizes in solutionto an RNA sample. Following hybridization, single-stranded, unhybridizedprobe and RNA are degraded by nucleases. An acrylamide gel is used toseparate the remaining protected fragments. Typically, solutionhybridization is more efficient than membrane-based hybridization, andit can accommodate up to 100 μg of sample RNA, compared with the 20-30μg maximum of blot hybridizations.

The ribonuclease protection assay, which is the most common type ofnuclease protection assay, requires the use of RNA probes.Oligonucleotides and other single-stranded DNA probes can only be usedin assays containing S1 nuclease. The single-stranded, antisense probemust typically be completely homologous to target RNA to preventcleavage of the probe:target hybrid by nuclease.

5.12.4 Northern Blots

A standard Northern blot assay can also be used to ascertain an RNAtranscript size, identify alternatively spliced RNA transcripts, and therelative amounts of RNA products of the biomarker of the invention, inaccordance with conventional Northern hybridization techniques known tothose persons of ordinary skill in the art. In Northern blots, RNAsamples are first separated by size via electrophoresis in an agarosegel under denaturing conditions. The RNA is then transferred to amembrane, crosslinked and hybridized with a labeled probe. Nonisotopicor high specific activity radiolabeled probes can be used includingrandom-primed, nick-translated, or PCR-generated DNA probes, in vitrotranscribed RNA probes, and oligonucleotides. Additionally, sequenceswith only partial homology (e.g., cDNA from a different species orgenomic DNA fragments that might contain an exon) may be used as probes.The labeled probe, e.g., a radiolabelled cDNA, either containing thefull-length, single stranded DNA or a fragment of that DNA sequence maybe at least 20, at least 30, at least 50, or at least 100 consecutivenucleotides in length. The probe can be labeled by any of the manydifferent methods known to those skilled in this art. The labels mostcommonly employed for these studies are radioactive elements, enzymes,chemicals that fluoresce when exposed to ultraviolet light, and others.A number of fluorescent materials are known and can be utilized aslabels. These include, but are not limited to, fluorescein, rhodamine,auramine, Texas Red, AMCA blue and Lucifer Yellow. A particulardetecting material is anti-rabbit antibody prepared in goats andconjugated with fluorescein through an isothiocyanate. Proteins can alsobe labeled with a radioactive element or with an enzyme. The radioactivelabel can be detected by any of the currently available countingprocedures. Non-limiting examples of isotopes include ³H, ¹⁴C, ³²P, ³⁵S,³⁶Cl, ⁵¹Cr, ⁵⁷Co, ⁵⁸Co, ⁵⁹Fe, ⁹⁰Y, ¹²⁵I, ¹³¹I, and ¹⁸⁶Re. Enzyme labelsare likewise useful, and can be detected by any of the presentlyutilized colorimetric, spectrophotometric, fluorospectrophotometric,amperometric or gasometric techniques. The enzyme is conjugated to theselected particle by reaction with bridging molecules such ascarbodiimides, diisocyanates, glutaraldehyde and the like. Any enzymesknown to one of skill in the art can be utilized. Examples of suchenzymes include, but are not limited to, peroxidase,beta-D-galactosidase, urease, glucose oxidase plus peroxidase andalkaline phosphatase. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,654,090, 3,850,752, and 4,016,043are referred to by way of example for their disclosure of alternatelabeling material and methods.

5.13 Techniques to Measure the Protein Products of the Biomarkers of theInvention

5.13.1 Antibody Based Methodologies

Standard techniques can also be utilized for determining the amount ofthe protein or proteins of interest present in a sample. For example,standard techniques can be employed using, e.g., immunoassays such as,for example, Western blot, immunoprecipitation followed by sodiumdodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE),immunocytochemistry, and the like to determine the amount of the proteinor proteins of interest present in a sample. A preferred agent fordetecting a protein of interest is an antibody capable of binding to aprotein of interest, preferably an antibody with a detectable label.

For such detection methods, protein from the sample to be analyzed caneasily be isolated using techniques which are well known to those ofskill in the art. Protein isolation methods can, for example, be such asthose described in Harlow and Lane (Harlow, E. and Lane, D., Antibodies:A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold SpringHarbor, N.Y. (1988)).

Preferred methods for the detection of the protein or proteins ofinterest involve their detection via interaction with a protein-specificantibody. For example, antibodies directed a protein of interest can beutilized as described herein. Antibodies can be generated utilizingstandard techniques well known to those of skill in the art. See, e.g.,Section 15.13.2 of this application and Section 5.2 of U.S. PublicationNo. 20040018200 for a more detailed discussion of such antibodygeneration techniques, which is incorporated herein by reference.Briefly, such antibodies can be polyclonal, or more preferably,monoclonal. An intact antibody, or an antibody fragment (e.g., Fab orF(ab′)₂) can, for example, be used. Preferably, the antibody is a humanor humanized antibody.

Table 5 is a table showing, in one embodiment of the invention,antibodies which are used to detect the proteins of the biomarkers ofthe invention.

TABLE 6 Related Antibodies Gene Commercial Scientific CommerciallySymbol Description Reference Reference Available ADSS adenylosuccinatesynthase APOBEC3B apolipoprotein B APOBEC1 mRNA editing (ADI enzyme,catalytic Catologue # polypeptide-like 3B APOBEC1- 1A); (SantaCruzBiotechnology; sc11738) ATM ataxia telangiectasia Ab2629 mutated(includes (AbCam ®) complementation groups A, C and D) CLCCharcot-Leyden Ultrastructural crystal protein localization of theCharcot-Leyden crystal protein (lysophospholipase) to a distinctcrystalloid-free granule population in mature human eosinophils AMDvorak, L Letourneau, GR Login, PF Weller and SJ Ackerman AmericanSociety of Haemotology Vol 72 Issue 1 pg. 150. CTBP1 C-terminal bindingAb14411 protein 1 (Abcam ®) CXCL1 chemokine (C—X—C Ab14026 motif) ligand1 (Abcam ®) (melanoma growth stimulating activity, alpha) DATF1 deathassociated transcription factor 1 S100A9 S100 calcium CYT402 bindingprotein A9 (Chemicon (calgranulin B) International)

For example, antibodies, or fragments of antibodies, specific for aprotein of interest can be used to quantitatively or qualitativelydetect the presence of the protein. This can be accomplished, forexample, by immunofluorescence techniques. Antibodies (or fragmentsthereof) can, additionally, be employed histologically, as inimmunofluorescence or immunoelectron microscopy, for in situ detectionof a protein of interest. In situ detection can be accomplished byremoving a histological specimen (e.g., a biopsy specimen) from apatient, and applying thereto a labeled antibody thereto that isdirected to a protein. The antibody (or fragment) is preferably appliedby overlaying the labeled antibody (or fragment) onto a biologicalsample. Through the use of such a procedure, it is possible to determinenot only the presence of the protein of interest, but also itsdistribution, its presence in cells (e.g., brain cells and lymphocytes)within the sample. A wide variety of well-known histological methods(such as staining procedures) can be utilized in order to achieve suchin situ detection.

Immunoassays for a protein of interest typically comprise incubating abiological sample of a detectably labeled antibody capable ofidentifying a protein of interest, and detecting the bound antibody byany of a number of techniques well-known in the art. As discussed inmore detail, below, the term “labeled” can refer to direct labeling ofthe antibody via, e.g., coupling (i.e., physically linking) a detectablesubstance to the antibody, and can also refer to indirect labeling ofthe antibody by reactivity with another reagent that is directlylabeled. Examples of indirect labeling include detection of a primaryantibody using a fluorescently labeled secondary antibody.

For example, the biological sample can be brought in contact with andimmobilized onto a solid phase support or carrier such asnitrocellulose, or other support which is capable of immobilizing cells,cell particles or soluble proteins. The support can then be washed withsuitable buffers followed by treatment with the detectably labeledfingerprint gene-specific antibody. The solid phase support can then bewashed with the buffer a second time to remove unbound antibody. Theamount of bound label on support can then be detected by conventionalmeans.

By “solid phase support or carrier” in the context of proteinaceousagents is intended any support capable of binding an antigen or anantibody. Well-known supports or carriers include glass, polystyrene,polypropylene, polyethylene, dextran, nylon, amylases, natural andmodified celluloses, polyacrylamides, gabbros, and magnetite. The natureof the carrier can be either soluble to some extent or insoluble for thepurposes of the present invention. The support material can havevirtually any possible structural configuration so long as the coupledmolecule is capable of binding to an antigen or antibody. Thus, thesupport configuration can be spherical, as in a bead, or cylindrical, asin the inside surface of a test tube, or the external surface of a rod.Alternatively, the surface can be flat such as a sheet, test strip, etc.Preferred supports include polystyrene beads. Those skilled in the artwill know many other suitable carriers for binding antibody or antigen,or will be able to ascertain the same by use of routine experimentation.

One of the ways in which a specific antibody can be detectably labeledis by linking the same to an enzyme and use in an enzyme immunoassay(EIA) (Voller, A., “The Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)”,1978, Diagnostic Horizons 2:1-7, Microbiological Associates QuarterlyPublication, Walkersville, Md.); Voller, A. et al., 1978, J. Clin.Pathol. 31:507-520; Butler, J. E., 1981, Meth. Enzymol. 73:482-523;Maggio, E. (ed.), 1980, Enzyme Immunoassay, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla.;Ishikawa, E. et al., (eds.), 1981, Enzyme Immunoassay, Kgaku Shoin,Tokyo). The enzyme which is bound to the antibody will react with anappropriate substrate, preferably a chromogenic substrate, in such amanner as to produce a chemical moiety which can be detected, forexample, by spectrophotometric, fluorimetric or by visual means. Enzymeswhich can be used to detectably label the antibody include, but are notlimited to, malate dehydrogenase, staphylococcal nuclease,delta-5-steroid isomerase, yeast alcohol dehydrogenase,alpha-glycerophosphate, dehydrogenase, triose phosphate isomerase,horseradish peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase, asparaginase, glucoseoxidase, beta-galactosidase, ribonuclease, urease, catalase,glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, glucoamylase andacetylcholinesterase. The detection can be accomplished by colorimetricmethods which employ a chromogenic substrate for the enzyme. Detectioncan also be accomplished by visual comparison of the extent of enzymaticreaction of a substrate in comparison with similarly prepared standards.

Detection can also be accomplished using any of a variety of otherimmunoassays. For example, by radioactively labeling the antibodies orantibody fragments, it is possible to detect a protein of interestthrough the use of a radioimmunoassay (RIA) (see, for example,Weintraub, B., Principles of Radioimmunoassays, Seventh Training Courseon Radioligand Assay Techniques, The Endocrine Society, March, 1986,which is incorporated by reference herein). The radioactive isotope(e.g., ¹²⁵I, ¹³¹I, ³⁵S or ³H) can be detected by such means as the useof a gamma counter or a scintillation counter or by autoradiography.

It is also possible to label the antibody with a fluorescent compound.When the fluorescently labeled antibody is exposed to light of theproper wavelength, its presence can then be detected due tofluorescence. Among the most commonly used fluorescent labelingcompounds are fluorescein isothiocyanate, rhodamine, phycoerythrin,phycocyanin, allophycocyanin, o-phthaldehyde and fluorescamine.

The antibody can also be detectably labeled using fluorescence emittingmetals such as ¹⁵²Eu, or others of the lanthanide series. These metalscan be attached to the antibody using such metal chelating groups asdiethylenetriaminepentacetic acid (DTPA) or ethylenediaminetetraaceticacid (EDTA).

The antibody also can be detectably labeled by coupling it to achemiluminescent compound. The presence of the chemiluminescent-taggedantibody is then determined by detecting the presence of luminescencethat arises during the course of a chemical reaction. Examples ofparticularly useful chemiluminescent labeling compounds are luminol,isoluminol, theromatic acridinium ester, imidazole, acridinium salt andoxalate ester.

Likewise, a bioluminescent compound can be used to label the antibody ofthe present invention. Bioluminescence is a type of chemiluminescencefound in biological systems in, which a catalytic protein increases theefficiency of the chemiluminescent reaction. The presence of abioluminescent protein is determined by detecting the presence ofluminescence. Important bioluminescent compounds for purposes oflabeling are luciferin, luciferase and aequorin.

5.13.2 Protein Arrays

Polypeptides which specifically and/or selectively bind to the proteinproducts of the biomarkers of the invention can be immobilized on aprotein array. The protein array can be used as a diagnostic tool, e.g.,to screen individiual samples (such as isolated cells, blood, synovialfluid, sera, biopsies, and the like) for the presence of thepolypeptides protein products of the biomarkers of the invention. Theprotein array can also include antibodies as well as other ligands,e.g., that bind to the polypeptides encoded by the biomarkers of theinvention. Methods of producing polypeptide arrays are described, e.g.,in De Wildt et al., 2000, Nature Biotech. 18:989-994; Lueking et al.,1999, Anal. Biochem. 270:103-111; Ge, 2000, Nuc. Acids Res. 28:e3;MacBeath and Schreiber, 2000, Science 289:1760-1763; InternationalPublication Nos. WO 01/40803 and WO 99/51773A1; and U.S. Pat. No.6,406,921. Polypeptides for the array can be spotted at high speed,e.g., using commercially available robotic apparatus, e.g., from GeneticMicroSystems and Affymetrix (Santa Clara, Calif., USA) or BioRobotics(Cambridge, UK). The array substrate can be, for example,nitrocellulose, plastic, glass, e.g., surface-modified glass. The arraycan also include a porous matrix, e.g., acrylamide, agarose, or anotherpolymer.

For example, the array can be an array of antibodies, e.g., as describedin De Wildt, supra. Cells that produce the polypeptide ligands can begrown on a filter in an arrayed format. Polypeptide production isinduced, and the expressed antibodies are immobilized to the filter atthe location of the cell. Information about the extent of binding ateach address of the array can be stored as a profile, e.g., in acomputer database.

In one embodiment the array is an array of protein products of the 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20 or all or any combination of thebiomarkers of the invention. In one aspect, the invention provides forantibodies that are bound to an array which selectively bind to theprotein products of the biomarkers of the invention.

5.14 Protein Production

Standard recombinant nucleic acid methods can be used to express apolypeptide or antibody of the invention (e.g., a protein product of abiomarker of the invention). Generally, a nucleic acid sequence encodingthe polypeptide is cloned into a nucleic acid expression vector. Ofcourse, if the protein includes multiple polypeptide chains, each chainmust be cloned into an expression vector, e.g., the same or differentvectors, that are expressed in the same or different cells. If theprotein is sufficiently small, i.e., the protein is a peptide of lessthan 50 amino acids, the protein can be synthesized using automatedorganic synthetic methods. Polypeptides comprising the 5′ region, 3′region or internal coding region of a biomarker of the invention, areexpressed from nucleic acid expression vectors containing only thosenucleotide sequences corresponding to the 5′ region, 3′ region orinternal coding region of a biomarker of the invention. Methods forproducing antibodies directed to protein products of a biomarker of theinvention, or polypeptides encoded by the 5′ region, 3′ region orinternal coding regions of a biomarker of the invention.

The expression vector for expressing the polypeptide can include, inaddition to the segment encoding the polypeptide or fragment thereof,regulatory sequences, including for example, a promoter, operably linkedto the nucleic acid(s) of interest. Large numbers of suitable vectorsand promoters are known to those of skill in the art and arecommercially available for generating the recombinant constructs of thepresent invention. The following vectors are provided by way of example.Bacterial: pBs, phagescript, PsiX174, pBluescript SK, pBs KS, pNH8a,pNH16a, pNH18a, pNH46a (Stratagene, La Jolla, Calif., USA); pTrc99A,pKK223-3, pKK233-3, pDR540, and pRIT5 (Pharmacia, Uppsala, Sweden).Eukaryotic: pWLneo, pSV2cat, pOG44, PXTI, pSG (Stratagene) pSVK3, pBPV,pMSG, and pSVL (Pharmacia). One preferred class of preferred librariesis the display library, which is described below.

Methods well known to those skilled in the art can be used to constructvectors containing a polynucleotide of the invention and appropriatetranscriptional/translational control signals. These methods include invitro recombinant DNA techniques, synthetic techniques and in vivorecombination/genetic recombination. See, for example, the techniquesdescribed in Sambrook & Russell, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual,3^(rd) Edition, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, N.Y. (2001) and Ausubelet al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology (Greene PublishingAssociates and Wiley Interscience, N.Y. (1989). Promoter regions can beselected from any desired gene using CAT (chloramphenicol transferase)vectors or other vectors with selectable markers. Two appropriatevectors are pKK232-8 and pCM7. Particular named bacterial promotersinclude lac, lacZ, T3, T7, gpt, lambda P, and trc. Eukaryotic promotersinclude CMV immediate early, HSV thymidine kinase, early and late SV40,LTRs from retrovirus, mouse metallothionein-I, and various art-knowntissue specific promoters. In specific embodiments, the promoter is aninducible promoter. In other embodiments, the promoter is a constitutivepromoter. In yet other embodiments, the promoter is a tissue-specificpromoter.

Generally, recombinant expression vectors will include origins ofreplication and selectable markers permitting transformation of the hostcell, e.g., the ampicillin resistance gene of E. coli and S. cerevisiaeauxotrophic markers (such as URA3, LEU2, HIS3, and TRPl genes), and apromoter derived from a highly expressed gene to direct transcription ofa downstream structural sequence. Such promoters can be derived fromoperons encoding glycolytic enzymes such as 3-phosphoglycerate kinase(PGK), a-factor, acid phosphatase, or heat shock proteins, among others.The polynucleotide of the invention is assembled in appropriate phasewith translation initiation and termination sequences, and preferably, aleader sequence capable of directing secretion of translated proteininto the periplasmic space or extracellular medium. Optionally, anucleic acid of the invention can encode a fusion protein including anN-terminal identification peptide imparting desired characteristics,e.g., stabilization or simplified purification of expressed recombinantproduct. Useful expression-vectors for bacteria are constructed byinserting a polynucleotide of the invention together with suitabletranslation initiation and termination signals, optionally in operablereading phase with a functional promoter. The vector will comprise oneor more phenotypic selectable markers and an origin of replication toensure maintenance of the vector and to, if desirable, provideamplification within the host. Suitable prokaryotic hosts fortransformation include E. coli, Bacillus subtilis, Salmonellatyphimurium and various species within the genera Pseudomonas,Streptomyces, and Staphylococcus, although others may also be employedas a matter of choice.

As a representative but nonlimiting example, useful expression vectorsfor bacteria can comprise a selectable marker and bacterial origin ofreplication derived from commercially available plasmids comprisinggenetic elements of the well known cloning vector pBR322 (ATCC 37017).Such commercial vectors include, for example, pKK223-3 (Pharmacia FineChemicals, Uppsala, Sweden) and pGEM1 (Promega, Madison, Wis., USA).

The present invention provides host cells genetically engineered tocontain the polynucleotides of the invention. For example, such hostcells may contain nucleic acids of the invention introduced into thehost cell using known transformation, transfection or infection methods.The present invention also provides host cells genetically engineered toexpress the polynucleotides of the invention, wherein suchpolynucleotides are in operative association with a regulatory sequenceheterologous to the host cell which drives expression of thepolynucleotides in the cell.

The present invention further provides host cells containing the vectorsof the present invention, wherein the nucleic acid has been introducedinto the host cell using known transformation, transfection or infectionmethods. The host cell can be a eukaryotic host cell, such as amammalian cell, a lower eukaryotic host cell, such as a yeast cell, orthe host cell can be a prokaryotic cell, such as a bacterial cell.Introduction of the recombinant construct into the host cell can beeffected, for example, by calcium phosphate transfection, DEAE, dextranmediated transfection, or electroporation (Davis, L. et al., BasicMethods in Molecular Biology (1986)). Cell-free translation systems canalso be employed to produce such proteins using RNAs derived from theDNA constructs of the present invention.

Any host/vector system can be used to express one or more of theproteins listed in Table 2. Appropriate cloning and expression vectorsfor use with prokaryotic and eukaryotic hosts are described by Sambrooket al., in Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Second Edition, ColdSpring Harbor, N.Y. (1989), the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety. The most preferred host cells arethose which do not normally express the particular polypeptide or whichexpresses the polypeptide at low natural level.

In a specific embodiment, the host cells are engineered to express anendogenous gene comprising the polynucleotides of the invention underthe control of inducible regulatory elements, in which case theregulatory sequences of the endogenous gene may be replaced byhomologous recombination. As described herein, gene targeting can beused to replace a gene's existing regulatory region with a regulatorysequence isolated from a different gene or a novel regulatory sequencesynthesized by genetic engineering methods. Such regulatory sequencesmay be comprised of promoters, enhancers, scaffold-attachment regions,negative regulatory elements, transcriptional initiation sites,regulatory protein binding sites or combinations of said sequences.Alternatively, sequences which affect the structure or stability of theRNA or protein produced may be replaced, removed, added, or otherwisemodified by targeting, including polyadenylation signals. mRNA stabilityelements, splice sites, leader sequences for enhancing or modifyingtransport or secretion properties of the protein, or other sequenceswhich alter or improve the function or stability of protein or RNAmolecules.

The host of the present invention may also be a yeast or other fungi. Inyeast, a number of vectors containing constitutive or induciblepromoters may be used. For a review see, Ausubel et al. (eds), CurrentProtocols in Molecular Biology, Vol. 2, Greene Publish. Assoc. & WileyInterscience, Ch. 13 (1988); Grant et al., 1987, “Expression andSecretion Vectors for Yeast”, Methods Enzymol. 153:516-544; Glover, DNACloning, Vol. II, IRL Press, Wash., D.C., Ch. 3 (1986); Bitter, 1987,“Heterologous Gene Expression in Yeast”, Methods Enzymol. 152:673-684;and Strathern et al. (eds), The Molecular Biology of the YeastSaccharomyces, Cold Spring Harbor Press, Vols. I and II (1982).

Potentially suitable yeast strains include Saccharomyces cerevisiae,Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Kluyveromyces strains, Candida, or any yeaststrain capable of expressing heterologous proteins. Potentially suitablebacterial strains include Escherichia coli, enterobacteriaceae such asSerratia marescans, bacilli such as Bacillus subtilis, Salmonellatyphimurium, pseudomonads or any bacterial strain capable of expressingheterologous proteins. If the protein is made in yeast or bacteria, itmay be necessary to modify the protein produced therein, for example byphosphorylation or glycosylation of the appropriate sites, in order toobtain the functional protein. Such covalent attachments may beaccomplished using known chemical or enzymatic methods.

Various mammalian cell culture systems can also be employed to expressrecombinant protein. Examples of mammalian expression systems includethe monkey COS cells such as COS-7 lines of monkey kidney fibroblasts,described by Gluzman, 1981, Cell 23:175 (1981), Chinese Hamster Ovary(CHO) cells, human kidney 293 cells, human epidermal A431 cells, humanColo205 cells, 3T3 cells, CV-1 cells, normal diploid cells, cell strainsderived from in vitro culture of primary tissue, primary explants, HeLacells, mouse L cells, BHK, HL-60, U937, HaK, C127, 3T3, or Jurkat cells,and other cell lines capable of expressing a compatible vector.Mammalian expression vectors will comprise an origin of replication, asuitable promoter and also any necessary ribosome-binding sites,polyadenylation site, splice donor and acceptor sites, transcriptionaltermination sequences, and 5′ flanking nontranscribed sequences.

Microbial cells employed in expression of proteins can be disrupted byany convenient method, including freeze-thaw cycling, sonication,mechanical disruption, or use of cell lysing agents. Recombinantpolypeptides produced in bacterial culture are usually isolated byinitial extraction from cell pellets, followed by one or moresalting-out, aqueous ion exchange or size exclusion chromatographysteps. In some embodiments, the template nucleic acid also encodes apolypeptide tag, e.g., penta- or hexa-histidine.

Recombinant proteins can be isolated using an techniqe well-known in theart. Scopes (Protein Purification: Principles and Practice,Springer-Verlag, New York (1994)), for example, provides a number ofgeneral methods for purifying recombinant (and non-recombinant)proteins. The methods include, e.g., ion-exchange chromatography,size-exclusion chromatography, affinity chromatography, selectiveprecipitation, dialysis, and hydrophobic interaction chromatography.

Variations, modifications, and other implementations of what isdescribed herein will occur to those of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

In order that the invention described herein may be more fullyunderstood, the following example is set forth. It should be understoodthat this example is for illustrative purposes only and are not to beconstrued as limiting this invention in any manner.

5.15 Methods for Identifying Compounds for Use in the Prevention,Treatment, Management or Amelioration Schizophrenia and/or BipolarDisorder or a Symptom Thereof

5.15.1 Methods to Identify Compounds that Modulate the Expression orActivity of a Biomarker

The present invention provides methods of identifying compounds thatbind to the products of the biomarkers of the invention. The presentinvention also provides methods for identifying compounds that modulatethe expression and/or activity of the products of the biomarkers of theinvention. The compounds identified via such methods are useful for thedevelopment of one or more animal models to study schizophrenia orbipolar disorder. Further, the compounds identified via such methods areuseful as lead compounds in the development of prophylactic andtherapeutic compositions for prevention, treatment, management and/oramelioration of Schizophrenia and/or Bipolar Disorder or a symptomthereof. Such methods are particularly useful in that the effort andgreat expense involved in testing potential prophylactics andtherapeutics in vivo is efficiently focused on those compoundsidentified via the in vitro and ex vivo methods described herein.

The present invention provides a method for identifying a compound to betested for an ability to prevent, treat, manage or ameliorateSchizophrenia and/or Bipolar Disorder or a symptom thereof, said methodcomprising: (a) contacting a cell expressing a protein product of one ormore biomarkers of the invention or a fragment thereof, or a RNA productof one or more biomarkers of the invention or a fragment thereof with atest compound; and (b) determining the ability of the test compound tobind to the protein product, protein fragment, RNA product, or RNAportion so that if a compound binds to the protein product, proteinfragment, RNA product, RNA portion, a compound to be tested for anability to prevent, treat, manage or ameliorate Schizophrenia and/orBipolar Disorder or a symptom thereof is identified. The cell, forexample, can be a prokaryotic cell, yeast cell, viral cell or a cell ofmammalian origin. Determining the ability of the test compound to bindto the protein product, protein fragment, RNA product, or RNA portioncan be accomplished, for example, by coupling the test compound with aradioisotope or enzymatic label such that binding of the test compoundto the protein product, protein fragment, RNA product, or RNA portioncan be determined by detecting the labeled compound in a complex. Forexample, test compounds can be labeled with ¹²⁵I, ³⁵S, ¹⁴C, or ³H,either directly or indirectly, and the radioisotope detected by directcounting of radioemmission or by scintillation counting. Alternatively,test compounds can be enzymatically labeled with, for example,horseradish peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase, or luciferase, and theenzymatic label detected by determination of conversion of anappropriate substrate to product. In a specific embodiment, the assaycomprises contacting a cell which expresses a protein product of one ormore biomarkers of the invention or a fragment thereof, or a RNA productof one or more biomarkers of the invention or a fragment thereof, with aknown compound which binds the protein product, protein fragment, RNAproduct, or RNA portion to form an assay mixture, contacting the assaymixture with a test compound, and determining the ability of the testcompound to interact with the protein product, protein fragment, RNAproduct, or RNA portion, wherein determining the ability of the testcompound to interact with the protein product, protein fragment, RNAproduct, or RNA portion comprises determining the ability of the testcompound to preferentially bind to the protein product, proteinfragment, RNA product, or RNA portion as compared to the known compound.

The present invention provides a method for identifying a compound to betested for an ability to prevent, treat, manage or ameliorateschizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder or a symptom thereof, said methodcomprising: (a) contacting a protein product of one or more biomarkersof the invention or a fragment thereof, or a RNA product of one or morebiomarkers of the invention or a portion thereof with a test compound;and (b) determining the ability of the test compound to bind to theprotein product, protein fragment, RNA product, or RNA portion so thatif a compound binds to the protein product, protein fragment, RNAproduct, or RNA portion, a compound to be tested for an ability toprevent, treat, manage or ameliorate Schizophrenia and/or BipolarDisorder or a symptom thereof is identified. Binding of the testcompound to the protein product or protein fragment can be determinedeither directly or indirectly. In a specific embodiment, the assayincludes contacting a protein product of one or more biomarkers of theinvention or a fragment thereof, or a RNA product of one or morebiomarkers of the invention or a portion thereof with a known compoundwhich binds the protein product, protein fragment, RNA product, or RNAportion to form an assay mixture, contacting the assay mixture with atest compound, and determining the ability of the test compound tointeract with the protein product, protein fragment, RNA product, or RNAportion, wherein determining the ability of the test compound tointeract with the protein product, protein fragment, RNA product, or RNAportion comprises determining the ability of the test compound topreferentially bind to the protein product, protein fragment, RNAproduct, or RNA portion as compared to the known compound. Techniqueswell known in the art can be used to determine the binding between atest compound and a protein product of a biomarker of the invention or afragment thereof, or a RNA product of a biomarker of the invention or aportion thereof.

In some embodiments of the above assay methods of the present invention,it may be desirable to immobilize a RNA product of a biomarker of theinvention or a portion thereof, or its target molecule to facilitateseparation of complexed from uncomplexed forms of the RNA product or RNAportion, the target molecule or both, as well as to accommodateautomation of the assay. In more than one embodiment of the above assaymethods of the present invention, it may be desirable to immobilizeeither a protein product of a biomarker of the invention or a fragmentthereof, or its target molecule to facilitate separation of complexedfrom uncomplexed forms of one or both of the proteins, as well as toaccommodate automation of the assay. Binding of a test compound to aprotein product of a biomarker of the invention or a fragment thereofcan be accomplished in any vessel suitable for containing the reactants.Examples of such vessels include microtiter plates, test tubes, andmicro-centrifuge tubes. In one embodiment, a fusion protein can beprovided which adds a domain that allows one or both of the proteins tobe bound to a matrix. For example, glutathione-S-transferase (GST)fusion proteins can be adsorbed onto glutathione sepharose beads (SigmaChemical; St. Louis, Mo.) or glutathione derivatized microtiter plates,which are then combined with the test compound or the test compound andeither the non-adsorbed target protein or a protein product of abiomarker of the invention or a fragment thereof, and the mixtureincubated under conditions conducive to complex formation (e.g., atphysiological conditions for salt and pH). Following incubation, thebeads or microtiter plate wells are washed to remove any unboundcomponents and complex formation is measured either directly orindirectly, for example, as described above. Alternatively, thecomplexes can be dissociated from the matrix, and the level of bindingof a protein product of a biomarker of the invention or a fragmentthereof can be determined using standard techniques.

Other techniques for immobilizing proteins on matrices can also be usedin the screening assays of the invention. For example, either a proteinproduct of a biomarker of the invention or a fragment thereof, or atarget molecule can be immobilized utilizing conjugation of biotin andstreptavidin. A biotinylated protein product of a biomarker of theinvention or a target molecule can be prepared frombiotin-NHS(N-hydroxy-succinimide) using techniques well known in the art(e.g., biotinylation kit, Pierce Chemicals; Rockford, Ill.), andimmobilized in the wells of streptavidin-coated 96 well plates (PierceChemical). Alternatively, antibodies reactive with a protein product ofa biomarker of the invention or a fragment thereof can be derivatized tothe wells of the plate, and protein trapped in the wells by antibodyconjugation. Methods for detecting such complexes, in addition to thosedescribed above for the GST-immobilized complexes, includeimmunodetection of complexes using antibodies reactive with a proteinproduct of a biomarker of the invention, as well as enzyme-linked assayswhich rely on detecting an enzymatic activity associated with a proteinproduct of a biomarker of the invention or a fragment thereofor targetmolecule.

The interaction or binding of a protein product of a biomarker of theinvention or a fragment thereof to a test compound can also bedetermined using such proteins or protein fragments as “bait proteins”in a two-hybrid assay or three hybrid assay (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No.5,283,317; Zervos et al. (1993) Cell 72:223-232; Madura et al. (1993) J.Biol. Chem. 268:12046-12054; Bartel et al. (1993) Bio/Techniques14:920-924; Iwabuchi et al. (1993) Oncogene 8:1693-1696; andInternational Publication No. WO 94/10300).

The present invention provides a method for identifying a compound to betested for an ability to prevent, treat, manage or ameliorateSchizophrenia and/or Bipolar Disorder or a symptom thereof, said methodcomprising: (a) contacting a cell expressing a protein or RNA product ofone or more biomarkers of the invention with a test compound; (b)determining the amount of the protein or RNA product present in (a); and(c) comparing the amount in (a) to that present in a correspondingcontrol cell that has not been contacted with the test compound, so thatif the amount of the protein or RNA product is altered relative to theamount in the control, a compound to be tested for an ability toprevent, treat, manage or ameliorate Schizophrenia and/or BipolarDisorder or a symptom thereof is identified. In a specific embodiment,the expression level(s) is altered by 5%, 10%, 15%, 25%, 30%, 40%, 50%,5 to 25%, 10 to 30%, at least 1 fold, at least 1.5 fold, at least 2fold, 4 fold, 5 fold, 10 fold, 25 fold, 1 to 10 fold, or 5 to 25 foldrelative to the expression level in the control as determined byutilizing an assay described herein (e.g., a microarray or RT-PCR) or anassay well known to one of skill in the art. In alternate embodiments,such a method comprises determining the amount of the protein or RNAproduct of at least 2, at least 3, at least 4, at least 5, at least 6,at least 7, 1 to 3, 1 to 5, 1-7, all or any combination of thebiomarkers of the invention present in the cell and comparing theamounts to those present in the control.

The cells utilized in the cell-based assays described herein can beengineered to express a biomarker of the invention utilizing techniquesknown in the art. See, e.g., Section III entitled “RecombinantExpression Vectors and Host Cells” of U.S. Pat. No. 6,245,527, which isincorporated herein by reference. Alternatively, cells that endogenouslyexpress a biomarker of the invention can be used. For example, braincells may be used.

In a specific embodiment, brain cells are isolated from a “normal”individual, or an individual with schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorderand are incubated in the presence and absence of a test compound forvarying amounts of time (i.e., 30 min, 1 hr, 5 hr, 24 hr, 48 hr and 96hrs). When screening for prophylactic or therapeutic agents, a clone ofthe full sequence of a biomarker of the invention or functional portionthereof is used to transfect brain cells. The transfected brain cellsare cultured for varying amounts of time (i.e., 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, or 14days) in the presence or absence of test compound. Following incubation,target nucleic acid samples are prepared from the brain cells andhybridized to a nucleic acid probe corresponding to a nucleic acidsequence which are differentially expressed in schizophrenia and/orbipolar disorder. The nucleic acid probe is labeled, for example, with aradioactive label, according to methods well-known in the art anddescribed herein. Hybridization is carried out by northern blot, forexample as described in Ausubel et al., supra or Sambrook et al.,supra). The differential hybridization, as defined herein, of the targetto the samples on the array from normal relative to RNA fromschizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder is indicative of the level ofexpression of RNA corresponding to a differentially expressed specificnucleic acid sequence. A change in the level of expression of the targetsequence as a result of the incubation step in the presence of the testcompound, is indicative of a compound that increases or decreases theexpression of the corresponding schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorderbiomarker specific nucleic acid sequence.

The present invention also provides a method for identifying a compoundto be tested for an ability to prevent, treat, manage or ameliorateschizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder or a symptom thereof, said methodcomprises: (a) contacting a cell-free extract (e.g., a brain cellextract) with a nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein or RNA productof one or more biomarkers of the invention and a test compound; (b)determining the amount of the protein or RNA product present in (a); and(c) comparing the amount(s) in (a) to that present to a correspondingcontrol that has not been contacted with the test compound, so that ifthe amount of the protein or RNA product is altered relative to theamount in the control, a compound to be tested for an ability toprevent, treat, manage or ameliorate schizophrenia and/or bipolardisorder or a symptom thereof is identified. In a specific embodiment,the expression level(s) is altered by 5%, 10%, 15%, 25%, 30%, 40%, 50%,5 to 25%, 10 to 30%, at least 1 fold, at least 1.5 fold, at least 2fold, 4 fold, 5 fold, 10 fold, 25 fold, 1 to 10 fold, or 5 to 25 foldrelative to the expression level in the control sample determined byutilizing an assay described herein (e.g., a microarray or RT-PCR) or anassay well known to one of skill in the art. In alternate embodiments,such a method comprises determining the amount of a protein or RNAproduct of at least 2, at least 3, at least 4, at least 5, at least 6,at least 7, 1 to 3, 1 to 5, 1-7, all or any combination of thebiomarkers of the invention present in the extract and comparing theamounts to those present in the control. In certain embodiments, theamount of RNA product of a biomarker of the invention is determined, inother embodiments, the amount of protein product of a biomarker of theinvention is determined, while in still other embodiments, the amount ofRNA and protein product of a biomarker of the invention is determined.Standard methods and compositions for determining the amount of RNA orprotein product of a biomarker of the invention can be utilized. Suchmethods and compositions are described in detail above.

In specific embodiments, in a screening assay described herein, theamount of protein or RNA product of a biomarker of the invention isdetermined utilizing kits. Such kits comprise materials and reagentsrequired for measuring the expression of at least 1, at least 2, atleast 3, at least 4, at least 5, at least 6, at least 7, at least 8 ormore protein or RNA products of at least 1, at least 2, at least 3, atleast 4, at least 5, at least 6, at least 7, at least 8, all or anycombination of the biomarkers of the invention. In specific embodiments,the kits may further comprise one or more additional reagents employedin the various methods, such as: (1) reagents for purifying RNA fromblood, brain cells; (2) primers for generating test nucleic acids; (3)dNTPs and/or rNTPs (either premixed or separate), optionally with one ormore uniquely labeled dNTPs and/or rNTPs (e.g., biotinylated or Cy3 orCy5 tagged dNTPs); (4) post synthesis labeling reagents, such aschemically active derivatives of fluorescent dyes; (5) enzymes, such asreverse transcriptases, DNA polymerases, and the like; (6) variousbuffer mediums, e.g., hybridization and washing buffers; (7) labeledprobe purification reagents and components, like spin columns, etc.; and(8) protein purification reagents; (9) signal generation and detectionreagents, e.g., streptavidin-alkaline phosphatase conjugate,chemifluorescent or chemiluminescent substrate, and the like. Inparticular embodiments, the kits comprise prelabeled quality controlledprotein and or RNA transcript (preferably, mRNA) for use as a control.

In some embodiments, the kits are RT-PCR kits. In other embodiments, thekits are nucleic acid arrays and protein arrays. Such kits according tothe subject invention will at least comprise an array having associatedprotein or nucleic acid members of the invention and packaging meanstherefore. Alternatively the protein or nucleic acid members of theinvention may be prepackaged onto an array.

In a specific embodiment, kits for measuring a RNA product of abiomarker of the invention comprise materials and reagents that arenecessary for measuring the expression of the RNA product. For example,a microarray or RT-PCR kit may be used and contain only those reagentsand materials necessary for measuring the levels of RNA products of atleast 1, at least 2, at least 3, at least 4, at least 5, at least 6, atleast 7, at least 8, all or any combination of the biomarkers of theinvention. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the kits can comprisematerials and reagents that are not limited to those required to measurethe levels of RNA products of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 all or anycombination of the biomarkers of the invention. For example, amicroarray kit may contain reagents and materials necessary formeasuring the levels of RNA products 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, all or anycombination of the biomarkers of the invention, in addition to reagentsand materials necessary for measuring the levels of the RNA products ofat least 1, at least 2, at least 3, at least 4, at least 5, at least 6,at least 7, at least 8, or more genes other than the biomarkers of theinvention. In a specific embodiment, a microarray or RT-PCR kit containsreagents and materials necessary for measuring the levels of RNAproducts of at least 1, at least 2, at least 3, at least 4, at least 5,at least 6, at least 7, at least 8, all or any combination of thebiomarkers of the invention, and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35,40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 125, 150, 175, 200,225, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, or more genes that are not biomarkers ofthe invention, or 1-10, 1-100, 1-150, 1-200, 1-300, 1-400, 1-500,1-1000, 25-100, 25-200, 25-300, 25-400, 25-500, 25-1000, 100-150,100-200, 100-300, 100-400, 100-500, 100-1000 or 500-1000 genes that arenot biomarkers of the invention. For nucleic acid microarray kits, thekits generally comprise probes attached to a support surface. The probesmay be labeled with a detectable label. In a specific embodiment, theprobes are specific for the 5′ region, the 3′ region, the internalcoding region, an exon(s), an intron(s), an exon junction(s), or anexon-intron junction(s), of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, all or anycombination of the biomarkers of the invention. The microarray kits maycomprise instructions for performing the assay and methods forinterpreting and analyzing the data resulting from the performance ofthe assay. The kits may also comprise hybridization reagents and/orreagents necessary for detecting a signal produced when a probehybridizes to a target nucleic acid sequence. Generally, the materialsand reagents for the microarray kits are in one or more containers. Eachcomponent of the kit is generally in its own a suitable container.

For RT-PCR kits, the kits generally comprise pre-selected primersspecific for particular RNA products (e.g., an exon(s), an intron(s), anexon junction(s), and an exon-intron junction(s)) of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7, 8, all or any combination of the biomarkers of the invention. TheRT-PCR kits may also comprise enzymes suitable for reverse transcribingand/or amplifying nucleic acids (e.g., polymerases such as Taq), anddeoxynucleotides and buffers needed for the reaction mixture for reversetranscription and amplification. The RT-PCR kits may also compriseprobes specific for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, all or any combination ofthe biomarkers of the invention. The probes may or may not be labeledwith a detectable label (e.g., a fluorescent label). Each component ofthe RT-PCR kit is generally in its own suitable container. Thus, thesekits generally comprise distinct containers suitable for each individualreagent, enzyme, primer and probe. Further, the RT-PCR kits may compriseinstructions for performing the assay and methods for interpreting andanalyzing the data resulting from the performance of the assay. Forantibody based kits, the kit can comprise, for example: (1) a firstantibody (which may or may not be attached to a support) which binds toprotein of interest (e.g., a protein product of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,all or any combination of the biomarkers of the invention); and,optionally, (2) a second, different antibody which binds to either theprotein, or the first antibody and is conjugated to a detectable label(e.g., a fluorescent label, radioactive isotope or enzyme). Theantibody-based kits may also comprise beads for conducting animmunoprecipitation. Each component of the antibody-based kits isgenerally in its own suitable container. Thus, these kits generallycomprise distinct containers suitable for each antibody. Further, theantibody-based kits may comprise instructions for performing the assayand methods for interpreting and analyzing the data resulting from theperformance of the assay.

Reporter gene-based assays may also be conducted to identify a compoundto be tested for an ability to prevent, treat, manage or ameliorateschizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder or a symptom thereof. In aspecific embodiment, the present invention provides a method foridentifying a compound to be tested for an ability to prevent, treat,manage or ameliorate schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder or a symptomthereof, said method comprising: (a) contacting a compound with a cellexpressing a reporter gene construct comprising a reporter gene operablylinked to a regulatory element of a biomarker of the invention (e.g., apromoter/enhancer element); (b) measuring the expression of saidreporter gene; and (c) comparing the amount in (a) to that present in acorresponding control cell that has not been contacted with the testcompound, so that if the amount of expressed reporter gene is alteredrelative to the amount in the control cell, a compound to be tested foran ability to prevent, treat, manage or ameliorate schizophrenia and/orbipolar disorder or a symptom thereof is identified. In accordance withthis embodiment, the cell may naturally express the biomarker or beengineered to express the biomarker. In another embodiment, the presentinvention provides a method for identifying a compound to be tested foran ability to prevent, treat, manage or ameliorate schizophrenia and/orbipolar disorder or a symptom thereof, said method comprising: (a)contacting a compound with a cell-free extract and a reporter geneconstruct comprising a reporter gene operably linked to a regulatoryelement of a biomarker of the invention (e.g., a promoter/enhancerelement); (b) measuring the expression of said reporter gene; and (c)comparing the amount in (a) to that present in a corresponding controlthat has not been contacted with the test compound, so that if theamount of expressed reporter gene is altered relative to the amount inthe control, a compound to be tested for an ability to prevent, treat,manage or ameliorate schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder or a symptomthereof is identified. Any reporter gene well-known to one of skill inthe art may be used in reporter gene constructs used in accordance withthe methods of the invention. Reporter genes refer to a nucleotidesequence encoding a RNA transcript or protein that is readily detectableeither by its presence (by, e.g., RT-PCR, Northern blot, Western Blot,ELISA, etc.) or activity. Non-limiting examples of reporter genes arelisted in Table 6, infra. Reporter genes may be obtained and thenucleotide sequence of the elements determined by any method well-knownto one of skill in the art. The nucleotide sequence of a reporter genecan be obtained, e.g., from the literature or a database such asGenBank. Alternatively, a polynucleotide encoding a reporter gene may begenerated from nucleic acid from a suitable source. If a clonecontaining a nucleic acid encoding a particular reporter gene is notavailable, but the sequence of the reporter gene is known, a nucleicacid encoding the reporter gene may be chemically synthesized orobtained from a suitable source (e.g., a cDNA library, or a cDNA librarygenerated from, or nucleic acid, preferably poly A+RNA, isolated from,any tissue or cells expressing the reporter gene) by PCR amplification.Once the nucleotide sequence of a reporter gene is determined, thenucleotide sequence of the reporter gene may be manipulated usingmethods well-known in the art for the manipulation of nucleotidesequences, e.g., recombinant DNA techniques, site directed mutagenesis,PCR, etc. (see, for example, the techniques described in Sambrook etal., 1990, Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual, 2d Ed., Cold SpringHarbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. and Ausubel et al., eds.,1998, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, NY,which are both incorporated by reference herein in their entireties), togenerate reporter genes having a different amino acid sequence, forexample to create amino acid substitutions, deletions, and/orinsertions.

TABLE 7 Reporter Genes and the Properties of the Reporter Gene ProductsReporter Gene Protein Activity & Measurement CAT (chloramphenicolacetyltransferase) Transfers radioactive acetyl groups tochloramphenicol or detection by thin layer chromatography andautoradiography GAL (beta-galactosidase) Hydrolyzes colorlessgalactosides to yield colored products. GUS (beta-glucuronidase)Hydrolyzes colorless glucuronides to yield colored products. LUC(luciferase) Oxidizes luciferin, emitting photons GFP (green fluorescentprotein) Fluorescent protein without substrate SEAP (secreted alkalinephosphatase) Luminescence reaction with suitable substrates or withsubstrates that generate chromophores HRP (horseradish peroxidase) Inthe presence of hydrogen oxide, oxidation of3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine to form a colored complex AP (alkalinephosphatase) Luminescence reaction with suitable substrates or withsubstrates that generate chromophoresIn accordance with the invention, cells that naturally or normallyexpress one or more, all or any combination of the biomarkers of theinvention can be used in the methods described herein. Alternatively,cells can be engineered to express one or more, all or any combinationof the biomarkers of the invention, or a reporter gene using techniqueswell-known in the art and used in the methods described herein. Examplesof such techniques include, but are not to, calcium phosphateprecipitation (see, e.g., Graham & Van der Eb, 1978, Virol. 52:546),dextran-mediated transfection, calcium phosphate mediated transfection,polybrene mediated transfection, protoplast fusion, electroporation,encapsulation of the nucleic acid in liposomes, and directmicroinjection of the nucleic acid into nuclei.

In a specific embodiment, the cells used in the methods described hereinare brain cells or cell lines, lymphocytes (T or B lymphocytes),monocytes, neutrophils, macrophages, eosinophils, basophils,erythrocytes or platelets. In a preferred embodiment, the cells used inthe methods described herein are brain cells. In another preferredembodiment, the cells used in the methods described herein arelymphocytes. In another embodiment, the cells used in the methodsdescribed herein are immortalized cell lines derived from a source,e.g., a tissue. Any cell-free extract that permits the translation, andoptionally but preferably, the transcription, of a nucleic acid can beused in accordance with the methods described herein. The cell-freeextract may be isolated from cells of any species origin. For example,the cell-free translation extract may be isolated from human cells,cultured mouse cells, cultured rat cells, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)cells, Xenopus oocytes, rabbit reticulocytes, wheat germ, or rye embryo(see, e.g., Krieg & Melton, 1984, Nature 308:203 and Dignam et al., 1990Methods Enzymol. 182:194-203). Alternatively, the cell-free translationextract, e.g., rabbit reticulocyte lysates and wheat germ extract, canbe purchased from, e.g., Promega, (Madison, Wis.). In a preferredembodiment, the cell-free extract is an extract isolated from humancells. In a specific embodiment, the human cells are HeLa cells,lymphocytes, or brain cells or cell lines. In addition to the ability tomodulate the expression levels of RNA and/or protein products abiomarker of the invention, it may be desirable, at least in certaininstances, that compounds modulate the activity of a protein product ofa biomarker of the invention. Thus, the present invention providesmethods of identifying compounds to be tested for an ability to prevent,treat, manage or ameliorate schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder or asymptom thereof, comprising methods for identifying compounds thatmodulate the activity of a protein product of one or more biomarkers ofthe invention. Such methods can comprise: (a) contacting a cellexpressing a protein product of one or more biomarkers of the inventionwith a test compound; (b) determining the activity level of the proteinproduct; and (c) comparing the activity level to that in a correspondingcontrol cell that has not been contacted with the test compound, so thatif the level of activity in (a) is altered relative to the level ofactivity in the control cell, a compound to be tested for an ability toprevent, treat, manage or ameliorate schizophrenia and/or bipolardisorder or a symptom thereof is identified. In a specific embodiment,the activity level(s) is altered by 5%, 10%, 15%, 25%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 5to 25%, 10 to 30%, at least 1 fold, at least 1.5 fold, at least 2 fold,4 fold, 5 fold, 10 fold, 25 fold, 1 to 10 fold, or 5 to 25 fold relativeto the activity level in the control as determined by utilizing an assaydescribed herein (e.g., a microarray or RT-PCR) or an assay well knownto one of skill in the art. In alternate embodiments, such a methodcomprises determining the activity level of a protein product of atleast 2, at least 3, at least 4, at least 5, at least 6, at least 7, atleast 8, at least 9, at least 10, at least 12, at least 15, at least 20,at least 25, 1 to 5, 1-10, 5-10, 5-25, or 10-40, all or any combinationof the biomarkers of the invention present in the cell and comparing theactivity levels to those present in the control.

The present invention provides methods of identifying compounds to betested for an ability to prevent, treat, manage or ameliorateschizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder or a symptom thereof, comprising:(a) contacting a cell-free extract with a nucleic acid encoding aprotein product of one or more biomarkers of the invention and a testcompound; (b) determining the activity level of the protein product; and(c) comparing the activity level to that in a corresponding control thathas not been contacted with the test compound, so that if the level ofactivity in (a) is altered relative to the level of activity in thecontrol, a compound to be tested for an ability to prevent, treat,manage or ameliorate schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder or a symptomthereof is identified. In a specific embodiment, the activity level(s)is altered by 5%, 10%, 15%, 25%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 5 to 25%, 10 to 30%, atleast 1 fold, at least 1.5 fold, at least 2 fold, 4 fold, 5 fold, 10fold, 25 fold, 1 to 10 fold, or 5 to 25 fold relative to the activitylevel in the control as determined by utilizing an assay describedherein (e.g., a microarray or RT-PCR) or an assay well known to one ofskill in the art. In alternate embodiments, such a method comprisesdetermining the activity level of a protein product of at least 2, atleast 3, at least 4, at least 5, at least 6, at least 7, at least 8, 1to 3, 1 to 5, 1-7 all or any combination of the biomarkers of theinvention present in the sample and comparing the activity levels tothose present in the control.

Standard techniques can be utilized to determine the level of activityof a protein product of a biomarker of the invention. Activities ofprotein products of biomarkers of the invention that can be determinedusing techniques well known in the art.

5.15.2 Method to Utilize the Biological Activity of the Compounds

Upon identification of compounds to be tested for an ability to prevent,treat, manage or ameliorate schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder or asymptom thereof (for convenience referred to herein as a “lead”compound), the compounds can be further investigated. For example, thecompounds identified via the present methods can be further tested invivo in accepted animal models of schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder.Further, the compounds identified via the methods can be analyzed withrespect to their specificity. Techniques for such additional compoundinvestigation are well known to one of skill in the art.

In one embodiment, the effect of a lead compound can be assayed bymeasuring the cell growth or viability of the target cell. Such assayscan be carried out with representative cells of cell types involved inschizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder (e.g., brain cells; cells isolatedfrom different portions of the brain; stem cells and the like).Alternatively, instead of culturing cells from a patient, a leadcompound may be screened using cells of a cell line. Many assayswell-known in the art can be used to assess the survival and/or growthof a patient cell or cell line following exposure to a lead compound;for example, cell proliferation can be assayed by measuringBromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation (see, e.g., Hoshino et al., 1986,Int. J. Cancer 38, 369; Campana et al., 1988, J. Immunol. Meth. 107:79)or (3H)-thymidine incorporation (see, e.g., Chen, J., 1996, Oncogene13:1395-403; Jeoung, J., 1995, J. Biol. Chem. 270:18367-73), by directcell count, by detecting changes in transcription, translation oractivity of known genes such as proto-oncogenes (e.g., fos, myc) or cellcycle markers (Rb, cdc2, cyclin A, D1, D2, D3, E, etc). The levels ofsuch protein and RNA (e.g., mRNA) and activity can be determined by anymethod well known in the art. For example, protein can be quantitated byknown immunodiagnostic methods such as Western blotting orimmunoprecipitation using commercially available antibodies. mRNA can bequantitated using methods that are well known and routine in the art,for example, using northern analysis, RNase protection, the polymerasechain reaction in connection with the reverse transcription. Cellviability can be assessed by using trypan-blue staining or other celldeath or viability markers known in the art. In a specific embodiment,the level of cellular ATP is measured to determined cell viability.Differentiation can be assessed, for example, visually based on changesin morphology.

5.15.3 Animal Models

Compounds can be tested in suitable animal model systems prior to use inhumans. Such animal model systems include but are not limited to rats,mice, chicken, cows, monkeys, pigs, dogs, rabbits, etc. Any animalsystem well-known in the art may be used. In certain embodiments,compounds are tested in a mouse model. Compounds can be administeredrepeatedly.

Accepted animal models can be utilized to determine the efficacy of thecompounds identified via the methods described above for the prevention,treatment, management and/or amelioration of schizophrenia and/orbipolar disorder or a symptom thereof

5.15.4 Toxicity

The toxicity and/or efficacy of a compound identified in accordance withthe invention can be determined by standard pharmaceutical procedures incell cultures or experimental animals, e.g., for determining the LD₅₀(the dose lethal to 50% of the population) and the ED₅₀ (the dosetherapeutically effective in 50% of the population). Cells and celllines that can be used to assess the cytotoxicity of a compoundidentified in accordance with the invention include, but are not limitedto, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), Caco-2 cells, and Huh7cells. The dose ratio between toxic and therapeutic effects is thetherapeutic index and it can be expressed as the ratio LD₅₀/ED₅₀. Acompound identified in accordance with the invention that exhibits largetherapeutic indices is preferred. While a compound identified inaccordance with the invention that exhibits toxic side effects may beused, care should be taken to design a delivery system that targets suchagents to the site of affected tissue in order to minimize potentialdamage to uninfected cells and, thereby, reduce side effects. The dataobtained from the cell culture assays and animal studies can be used informulating a range of dosage of a compound identified in accordancewith the invention for use in humans. The dosage of such agents liespreferably within a range of circulating concentrations that include theED₅₀ with little or no toxicity. The dosage may vary within this rangedepending upon the dosage form employed and the route of administrationutilized. For any agent used in the method of the invention, thetherapeutically effective dose can be estimated initially from cellculture assays. A dose may be formulated in animal models to achieve acirculating plasma concentration range that includes the IC₅₀ (i.e., theconcentration of the compound that achieves a half-maximal inhibition ofsymptoms) as determined in cell culture. Such information can be used tomore accurately determine useful doses in humans. Levels in plasma maybe measured, for example, by high performance liquid chromatography.

5.15.5 Design of Congeners or Analogs

The compounds which display the desired biological activity can be usedas lead compounds for the development or design of congeners or analogshaving useful pharmacological activity. For example, once a leadcompound is identified, molecular modeling techniques can be used todesign variants of the compound that can be more effective. Examples ofmolecular modeling systems are the CHARM and QUANTA programs (PolygenCorporation, Waltham, Mass.). CHARM performs the energy minimization andmolecular dynamics functions. QUANTA performs the construction, graphicmodelling and analysis of molecular structure. QUANTA allows interactiveconstruction, modification, visualization, and analysis of the behaviorof molecules with each other.

A number of articles review computer modeling of drugs interactive withspecific proteins, such as Rotivinen et al., 1988, Acta PharmaceuticalFennica 97:159-166; Ripka, 1998, New Scientist 54-57; McKinaly &Rossmann, 1989, Annu. Rev. Pharmacol. Toxiciol. 29:111-122; Perry &Davies, OSAR: Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationships in DrugDesign pp. 189-193 (Alan R. Liss, Inc. 1989); Lewis & Dean, 1989, Proc.R. Soc. Lond. 236:125-140 and 141-162; Askew et al., 1989, J. Am. Chem.Soc. 111:1082-1090. Other computer programs that screen and graphicallydepict chemicals are available from companies such as BioDesign, Inc.(Pasadena, Calif.), Allelix, Inc. (Mississauga, Ontario, Canada), andHypercube, Inc. (Cambridge, Ontario). Although these are primarilydesigned for application to drugs specific to particular proteins, theycan be adapted to design of drugs specific to any identified region. Theanalogs and congeners can be tested for binding to the proteins ofinterest (i.e., the protein products of a biomarker of the invention)using the above-described screens for biologic activity. Alternatively,lead compounds with little or no biologic activity, as ascertained inthe screen, can also be used to design analogs and congeners of thecompound that have biologic activity.

5.15.6 Compounds

Compounds that can be tested and identified methods described herein caninclude, but are not limited to, compounds obtained from any commercialsource, including Aldrich (1001 West St. Paul Ave., Milwaukee, Wis.53233), Sigma Chemical (P.O. Box 14508, St. Louis, Mo. 63178), FlukaChemie AG (Industriestrasse 25, CH-9471 Buchs, Switzerland (FlukaChemical Corp. 980 South 2nd Street, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779)), EastmanChemical Company, Fine Chemicals (P.O Box 431, Kingsport, Tenn. 37662),Boehringer Mannheim GmbH (Sandhofer Strasse 116, D-68298 Mannheim),Takasago (4 Volvo Drive, Rockleigh, N.J. 07647), SST Corporation (635Brighton Road, Clifton, N.J. 07012), Ferro (111 West Irene Road,Zachary, LA 70791), Riedel-deHaen Aktiengesellschaft (P.O. Box D-30918,Seelze, Germany), PPG Industries Inc., Fine Chemicals (One PPG Place,34th Floor, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15272). Further any kind of natural productsmay be screened using the methods of the invention, including microbial,fungal, plant or animal extracts.

Compounds from large libraries of synthetic or natural compounds can bescreened. Numerous means are currently used for random and directedsynthesis of saccharide, peptide, and nucleic acid-based compounds.Synthetic compound libraries are commercially available from a number ofcompanies including Maybridge Chemical Co. (Trevillet, Cornwall, UK),Comgenex (Princeton, N.J.), Brandon Associates (Merrimack, N.H.), andMicrosource (New Milford, Conn.). A rare chemical library is availablefrom Aldrich (Milwaukee, Wis.). Combinatorial libraries are availableand are prepared. Alternatively, libraries of natural compounds in theform of bacterial, fungal, plant and animal extracts are available frome.g., Pan Laboratories (Bothell, Wash.) or MycoSearch (NC), or arereadily produceable by methods well known in the art. Additionally,natural and synthetically produced libraries and compounds are readilymodified through conventional chemical, physical, and biochemical means.

Furthermore, diversity libraries of test compounds, including smallmolecule test compounds, may be utilized. Libraries screened using themethods of the present invention can comprise a variety of types ofcompounds. Examples of libraries that can be screened in accordance withthe methods of the invention include, but are not limited to, peptoids;random biooligomers; diversomers such as hydantoins, benzodiazepines anddipeptides; vinylogous polypeptides; nonpeptidal peptidomimetics;oligocarbamates; peptidyl phosphonates; peptide nucleic acid libraries;antibody libraries; carbohydrate libraries; and small molecule libraries(preferably, small organic molecule libraries). In some embodiments, thecompounds in the libraries screened are nucleic acid or peptidemolecules. In a non-limiting example, peptide molecules can exist in aphage display library. In other embodiments, the types of compoundsinclude, but are not limited to, peptide analogs including peptidescomprising non-naturally occurring amino acids, e.g., D-amino acids,phosphorous analogs of amino acids, such as α-amino phosphoric acids andα-amino phosphoric acids, or amino acids having non-peptide linkages,nucleic acid analogs such as phosphorothioates and PNAs, hormones,antigens, synthetic or naturally occurring drugs, opiates, dopamine,serotonin, catecholamines, thrombin, acetylcholine, prostaglandins,organic molecules, pheromones, adenosine, sucrose, glucose, lactose andgalactose. Libraries of polypeptides or proteins can also be used in theassays of the invention.

In a specific embodiment, the combinatorial libraries are small organicmolecule libraries including, but not limited to, benzodiazepines,isoprenoids, thiazolidinones, metathiazanones, pyrrolidines, morpholinocompounds, and benzodiazepines. In another embodiment, the combinatoriallibraries comprise peptoids; random bio-oligomers; benzodiazepines;diversomers such as hydantoins, benzodiazepines and dipeptides;vinylogous polypeptides; nonpeptidal peptidomimetics; oligocarbamates;peptidyl phosphonates; peptide nucleic acid libraries; antibodylibraries; or carbohydrate libraries. Combinatorial libraries arethemselves commercially available For example, libraries may becommercially obtained from, e.g., Specs and BioSpecs B.V. (Rijswijk, TheNetherlands), Chembridge Corporation (San Diego, Calif.), ContractService Company (Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, Russia), Comgenex USA Inc.(Princeton, N.J.), Maybridge Chemicals Ltd. (Cornwall PL34 OHW, UnitedKingdom), Asinex (Moscow, Russia), ComGenex (Princeton, N.J.), Ru,Tripos, Inc. (St. Louis, Mo.), ChemStar, Ltd (Moscow, Russia), 3DPharmaceuticals (Exton, Pa.), and Martek Biosciences (Columbia, Md.).

In a preferred embodiment, the library is preselected so that thecompounds of the library are more amenable for cellular uptake. Forexample, compounds are selected based on specific parameters such as,but not limited to, size, lipophilicity, hydrophilicity, and hydrogenbonding, which enhance the likelihood of compounds getting into thecells. In another embodiment, the compounds are analyzed bythree-dimensional or four-dimensional computer computation programs.

The combinatorial compound library for use in accordance with themethods of the present invention may be synthesized. There is a greatinterest in synthetic methods directed toward the creation of largecollections of small organic compounds, or libraries, which could bescreened for pharmacological, biological or other activity. Thesynthetic methods applied to create vast combinatorial libraries areperformed in solution or in the solid phase, i.e., on a support.Solid-phase synthesis makes it easier to conduct multi-step reactionsand to drive reactions to completion with high yields because excessreagents can be easily added and washed away after each reaction step.Solid-phase combinatorial synthesis also tends to improve isolation,purification and screening. However, the more traditional solution phasechemistry supports a wider variety of organic reactions than solid-phasechemistry. Combinatorial compound libraries of the present invention maybe synthesized using the apparatus described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,190,619to Kilcoin et al., which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety. U.S. Pat. No. 6,190,619 discloses a synthesis apparatuscapable of holding a plurality of reaction vessels for parallelsynthesis of multiple discrete compounds or for combinatorial librariesof compounds.

In one embodiment, the combinatorial compound library can be synthesizedin solution. The method disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,194,612 to Boger etal., which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, featurescompounds useful as templates for solution phase synthesis ofcombinatorial libraries. The template is designed to permit reactionproducts to be easily purified from unreacted reactants usingliquid/liquid or solid/liquid extractions. The compounds produced bycombinatorial synthesis using the template will preferably be smallorganic molecules. Some compounds in the library may mimic the effectsof non-peptides or peptides. In contrast to solid phase synthesize ofcombinatorial compound libraries, liquid phase synthesis does notrequire the use of specialized protocols for monitoring the individualsteps of a multistep solid phase synthesis (Egner et al., 1995, J. Org.Chem. 60:2652; Anderson et al., 1995, J. Org. Chem. 60:2650; Fitch etal., 1994, J. Org. Chem. 59:7955; Look et al., 1994, J. Org. Chem.49:7588; Metzger et al., 1993, Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. Engl. 32:894;Youngquist et al., 1994, Rapid Commun. Mass Spect. 8:77; Chu et al.,1995, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 117:5419; Brummel et al., 1994, Science 264:399;and Stevanovic et al., 1993, Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 3:431).

Combinatorial compound libraries useful for the methods of the presentinvention can be synthesized on supports. In one embodiment, a splitsynthesis method, a protocol of separating and mixing supports duringthe synthesis, is used to synthesize a library of compounds on supports(see e.g., Lam et al., 1997, Chem. Rev. 97:41-448; Ohlmeyer et al.,1993, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:10922-10926 and references citedtherein). Each support in the final library has substantially one typeof compound attached to its surface. Other methods for synthesizingcombinatorial libraries on supports, wherein one product is attached toeach support, will be known to those of skill in the art (see, e.g.,Nefzi et al., 1997, Chem. Rev. 97:449-472).

In some embodiments of the present invention, compounds can be attachedto supports via linkers. Linkers can be integral and part of thesupport, or they may be nonintegral that are either synthesized on thesupport or attached thereto after synthesis. Linkers are useful not onlyfor providing points of compound attachment to the support, but also forallowing different groups of molecules to be cleaved from the supportunder different conditions, depending on the nature of the linker. Forexample, linkers can be, inter alia, electrophilically cleaved,nucleophilically cleaved, photocleavable, enzymatically cleaved, cleavedby metals, cleaved under reductive conditions or cleaved under oxidativeconditions. In a preferred embodiment, the compounds are cleaved fromthe support prior to high throughput screening of the compounds.

If the library comprises arrays or microarrays of compounds, whereineach compound has an address or identifier, the compound can bedeconvoluted, e.g., by cross-referencing the positive sample to originalcompound list that was applied to the individual test assays.

If the library is a peptide or nucleic acid library, the sequence of thecompound can be determined by direct sequencing of the peptide ornucleic acid. Such methods are well known to one of skill in the art.

A number of physico-chemical techniques can be used for the de novocharacterization of compounds. Examples of such techniques include, butare not limited to, mass spectrometry, NMR spectroscopy, X-raycrytallography and vibrational spectroscopy.

5.16 Use of Identified Compounds to Prevent, Treat, Manage or AmeliorateSchizophrenia And/or Bipolar Disorder or a Symptom Thereof

The present invention provides methods of preventing, treating, managingor ameliorating schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder or a symptomthereof, said methods comprising administering to a subject in needthereof one or more compounds identified in accordance with the methodsof the invention. In certain embodiments, the subject has mild,moderate, marked or severe schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder. In apreferred embodiment, the subject is human. In one embodiment, theinvention provides a method of preventing, treating, managing orameliorating schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder or a symptom thereof,said method comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a doseof a prophylactically or therapeutically effective amount of one or morecompounds identified in accordance with the methods of the invention. Ina specific embodiment, a compound identified in accordance with themethods of the invention is not administered to prevent, treat, orameliorate schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder or a symptom thereof,if such compound has been used previously to prevent, treat, manage orameliorate schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder or a symptom thereof.In another embodiment, a compound identified in accordance with themethods of the invention is not administered to prevent, treat, orameliorate schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder or a symptom thereof,if such compound has suggested to be used to prevent, treat, manage orameliorate schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder or a symptom thereof.In another embodiment, a compound identified in accordance with themethods of the invention specifically binds to and/or alters theexpression and/or activity level of a protein or RNA product of only onebiomarker of the invention. In another embodiment, a compound identifiedin accordance with the methods of the invention is not administered toprevent, treat, or ameliorate schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder or asymptom thereof, if such compound binds to and/or alters the expressionand/or activity of a protein or RNA product of one, two, three, all orany combination of the following biomarkers of Table 1. In yet anotherembodiment, a compound identified in accordance with the methods of theinvention binds to and/or alters the expression and/or activity level ofa protein or RNA product of at least 2, at least 3, at least 4, at least5, at least 10, at least 15, at least 20, at least 25, a or morebiomarkers of the invention.

The invention also provides methods of preventing, treating, managing orameliorating schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder or a symptom thereof,said methods comprising administering to a subject in need thereof oneor more of the compounds identified utilizing the screening methodsdescribed herein, and one or more other therapies (e.g., prophylactic ortherapeutic agents and surgery). In a specific embodiment, suchtherapies are currently being used, have been used or are known to beuseful in the prevention, treatment, management or amelioration ofschizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder or a symptom thereof (including,but not limited to the prophylactic or therapeutic agents listedherein). The therapies (e.g., prophylactic or therapeutic agents) of thecombination therapies of the invention can be administered sequentiallyor concurrently. In a specific embodiment, the combination therapies ofthe invention comprise a compound identified in accordance with theinvention and at least one other therapy that has the same mechanism ofaction as said compound. In another specific embodiment, the combinationtherapies of the invention comprise a compound identified in accordancewith the methods of the invention and at least one other therapy (e.g.,prophylactic or therapeutic agent) which has a different mechanism ofaction than said compound. The combination therapies of the presentinvention improve the prophylactic or therapeutic effect of a compoundof the invention by functioning together with the compound to have anadditive or synergistic effect. The combination therapies of the presentinvention reduce the side effects associated with the therapies (e.g.,prophylactic or therapeutic agents). The prophylactic or therapeuticagents of the combination therapies can be administered to a subject inthe same pharmaceutical composition. Alternatively, the prophylactic ortherapeutic agents of the combination therapies can be administeredconcurrently to a subject in separate pharmaceutical compositions. Theprophylactic or therapeutic agents may be administered to a subject bythe same or different routes of administration.

In specific embodiment, a pharmaceutical composition comprising one ormore compounds identified in an assay described herein is administeredto a subject, preferably a human, to prevent, treat, manage orameliorate schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder or a symptom thereof.In accordance with the invention, the pharmaceutical composition mayalso comprise one or more prophylactic or therapeutic agents.Preferably, such agents are currently being used, have been used or areknown to be useful in the prevention, treatment, management oramelioration of schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder or a symptomthereof.

A compound identified in accordance with the methods of the inventionmay be used as a first, second, third, fourth or fifth line of therapyfor schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder. The invention providesmethods for treating, managing or ameliorating schizophrenia and/orbipolar disorder or a symptom thereof in a subject refractory toconventional therapies for schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder, saidmethods comprising administering to said subject a dose of aprophylactically or therapeutically effective amount of a compoundidentified in accordance with the methods of the invention.

The invention provides methods for treating, managing or amelioratingschizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder or a symptom thereof in a subjectrefractory to existing single agent therapies for schizophrenia and/orbipolar disorder, said methods comprising administering to said subjecta dose of a prophylactically or therapeutically effective amount of acompound identified in accordance with the methods of the invention anda dose of a prophylactically or therapeutically effective amount of oneor more other therapies (e.g., prophylactic or therapeutic agents). Theinvention also provides methods for treating or managing a schizophreniaand/or bipolar disorder by administering a compound identified inaccordance with the methods of the invention in combination with anyother therapy (e.g., surgery) to patients who have proven refractory toother therapies but are no longer on these therapies. The invention alsoprovides methods for the treatment or management of a patient havingschizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder and immunosuppressed by reason ofhaving previously undergone other therapies. The invention also providesalternative methods for the treatment or management of schizophreniaand/or bipolar disorder where hormonal therapy and/or biologicaltherapy/immunotherapy has proven or may prove too toxic, i.e., resultsin unacceptable or unbearable side effects, for the subject beingtreated or managed.

5.17 Compounds of the Invention

Representative, non-limiting examples of compounds that can used inaccordance with the methods of the invention to prevent, treat, manageand/or ameliorate schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder or a symptomthereof are described in detail below.

First, such compounds can include, for example, antisense, ribozyme, ortriple helix compounds that can downregulate the expression or activityof a protein or RNA product of a biomarker of the invention. Suchcompounds are described in detail in the subsection below.

Second, such compounds can include, for example, antibody compositionsthat can modulate the expression of a protein or RNA product of abiomarker of the invention, or the activity of a protein product of abiomarker of the invention. In a specific embodiment, the antibodycompositions downregulate the expression a protein or RNA product of abiomarker of the invention, or the activity of a protein product of abiomarker of the invention. Such compounds are described in detail inthe subsection below.

Third, such compounds can include, for example, protein products of abiomarker of the invention. The invention encompasses the use ofpeptides or peptide mimetics selected to mimic a protein product of abiomarker of the invention to prevent, treat, manage or ameliorateschizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder or a symptom thereof. Further,such compounds can include, for example, dominant-negative polypeptidesthat can modulate the expression a protein or RNA product of a biomarkerof the invention, or the activity of a protein product of a biomarker ofthe invention.

The methods also encompasses the use derivatives, analogs and fragmentsof a protein product of a biomarker of the invention to prevent, treat,manage or ameliorate schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder or a symptomthereof. In particular, the invention encompasses the use of fragmentsof a protein product of a biomarker of the invention comprising one ormore domains of such a protein(s) to prevent, treat, manage orameliorate schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder or a symptom thereof.In another specific embodiment, the invention encompasses the use of aprotein product of a biomarker of the invention, or an analog,derivative or fragment of such a protein which is expressed as a fusion,or chimeric protein product (comprising the protein, fragment, analog,or derivative joined via a peptide bond to a heterologous proteinsequence). In specific embodiments, an antisense oligonucleotide of atleast 1, at least 2, at least 3, at least 4, at least 5, at least 6, atleast 7, at least 8, at least 9, at least 10, at least 15, at least 20,at least 25, a, or more of biomarkers of the invention are administeredto prevent, treat, manage or ameliorate schizophrenia and/or bipolardisorder or a symptom thereof. In other embodiments, one or more ofprotein products of a biomarker of the invention or a fragment, analog,or derivative thereof are administered to prevent, treat, manage orameliorate schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder or a symptom thereof.In other embodiment, one or more antibodies that specifically bind to aprotein product of the invention are administered to prevent, treat,manage or ameliorate schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder or a symptomthereof. In other embodiments, one or more dominant-negativepolypeptides are administered to prevent, treat, manage or ameliorateschizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder or a symptom thereof.

5.17.1 Antisense, Ribozyme, Triple-Helix Compositions

Standard techniques can be utilized to produce antisense, triple helix,or ribozyme molecules reactive to one or more of the genes listed inTables 1-4, and transcripts of the genes the genes listed in Tables 1-4,for use as part of the methods described herein. First, standardtechniques can be utilized for the production of antisense nucleic acidmolecules, i.e., molecules which are complementary to a sense nucleicacid encoding a polypeptide of interest, e.g., complementary to thecoding strand of a double-stranded cDNA molecule or complementary to anmRNA sequence. Accordingly, an antisense nucleic acid can hydrogen bondto a sense nucleic acid. The antisense nucleic acid can be complementaryto an entire coding strand, or to only a portion thereof, e.g., all orpart of the protein coding region (or open reading frame). An antisensenucleic acid molecule can be antisense to all or part of a non-codingregion of the coding strand of a nucleotide sequence encoding apolypeptide of interest. The non-coding regions (“5′ and 3′ untranslatedregions”) are the 5′ and 3′ sequences that flank the coding region andare not translated into amino acids.

An antisense oligonucleotide can be, for example, about 5, 10, 15, 20,25, 30, 35, 40, 45 or 50 nucleotides or more in length. An antisensenucleic acid of the invention can be constructed using chemicalsynthesis and enzymatic ligation reactions using procedures known in theart. For example, an antisense nucleic acid (e.g., an antisenseoligonucleotide) can be chemically synthesized using naturally occurringnucleotides or variously modified nucleotides designed to increase thebiological stability of the molecules or to increase the physicalstability of the duplex formed between the antisense and sense nucleicacids, e.g., phosphorothioate derivatives and acridine substitutednucleotides can be used. Examples of modified nucleotides which can beused to generate the antisense nucleic acid include 5-fluorouracil,5-bromouracil, 5-chlorouracil, 5-iodouracil, hypoxanthine, xanthine,4-acetylcytosine, 5-(carboxyhydroxylmethyl) uracil,5-carboxymethylaminomethyl-2-thiouridine,5-carboxymethylaminomethyluracil, dihydrouracil,beta-D-galactosylqueosine, inosine, N6-isopentenyladenine,1-methylguanine, 1-methylinosine, 2,2-dimethylguanine, 2-methyladenine,2-methylguanine, 3-methylcytosine, 5-methylcytosine, N6-adenine,7-methylguanine, 5-methylaminomethyluracil,5-methoxyaminomethyl-2-thiouracil, beta-D-mannosylqueosine,5′-methoxycarboxymethyluracil, 5-methoxyuracil,2-methylthio-N-6-isopentenyladenine, uracil-5-oxyacetic acid (v),wybutoxosine, pseudouracil, queosine, 2-thiocytosine,5-methyl-2-thiouracil, 2-thiouracil, 4-thiouracil, 5-methyluracil,uracil-5-oxyacetic acid methylester, uracil-5-oxyacetic acid (v),5-methyl-2-thiouracil, 3-(3-amino-3-N-2-carboxypropyl) uracil, (acp3)w,and 2,6-diaminopurine. Alternatively, the antisense nucleic acid can beproduced biologically using an expression vector into which a nucleicacid has been subcloned in an antisense orientation (i.e., RNAtranscribed from the inserted nucleic acid will be of an antisenseorientation to a target nucleic acid of interest). Antisense nucleicacid molecules administered to a subject or generated in situ such thatthey hybridize with or bind to cellular mRNA encoding the polypeptide ofinterest to thereby inhibit expression, e.g., by inhibitingtranscription and/or translation. The hybridization can be byconventional nucleotide complementarity to form a stable duplex, or, forexample, in the case of an antisense nucleic acid molecule which bindsto DNA duplexes, through specific interactions in the major groove ofthe double helix. An example of a route of administration of antisensenucleic acid molecules of the invention includes direct injection at atissue, e.g., a joint (e.g., a knee, hip, elbow, and knuckle), site.Alternatively, antisense nucleic acid molecules can be modified totarget selected cells and then administered systemically. For example,for systemic administration, antisense molecules can be modified suchthat they specifically bind to receptors or antigens expressed on aselected cell, e.g., a T cell or brain cell, surface, e.g., by linkingthe antisense nucleic acid molecules to peptides or antibodies whichbind to cell surface receptors or antigens. The antisense nucleic acidmolecules can also be delivered to cells using vectors, e.g., genetherapy vectors, described below. To achieve sufficient intracellularconcentrations of the antisense molecules, vector constructs in whichthe antisense nucleic acid molecule is placed under the control of astrong pol II or pol III promoter are preferred.

An antisense nucleic acid molecule of interest can be an α-anomericnucleic acid molecule. An α-anomeric nucleic acid molecule formsspecific double-stranded hybrids with complementary RNA in which,contrary to the usual α-units, the strands run parallel to each other(Gaultier et al., 1987, Nucleic Acids Res. 15:6625-6641). The antisensenucleic acid molecule can also comprise a 2′-o-methylribonucleotide(Inoue et al., 1987, Nucleic Acids Res. 15:6131-6148) or a chimericRNA-DNA analogue (Inoue et al., 1987, FEBS Lett. 215:327-330). Ribozymesare catalytic RNA molecules with ribonuclease activity that are capableof cleaving a single-stranded nucleic acid, such as an mRNA, to whichthey have a complementary region, and can also be generated usingstandard techniques. Thus, ribozymes (e.g., hammerhead ribozymes(described in Haselhoff and Gerlach, 1988, Nature 334:585-591)) can beused to catalytically cleave mRNA transcripts to thereby inhibittranslation of the protein encoded by the mRNA. A ribozyme havingspecificity for a nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide ofinterest can be designed based upon the nucleotide sequence of a cDNAdisclosed herein. For example, a derivative of a Tetrahymena L-19 IVSRNA can be constructed in which the nucleotide sequence of the activesite is complementary to the nucleotide sequence to be cleaved in a Cechet al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,987,071; and Cech et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,116,742.Alternatively, an mRNA encoding a polypeptide of interest can be used toselect a catalytic RNA having a specific ribonuclease activity from apool of RNA molecules. See, e.g., Bartel and Szostak, 1993, Science261:1411-1418.

Triple helical structures can also be generated using well knowntechniques. For example, expression of a polypeptide of interest can beinhibited by targeting nucleotide sequences complementary to theregulatory region of the gene encoding the polypeptide (e.g., thepromoter and/or enhancer) to form triple helical structures that preventtranscription of the gene in target cells. See generally Helene, 1991,Anticancer Drug Des. 6(6):569-84; Helene, 1992, Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci.660:27-36; and Maher, 1992, Bioassays 14(12):807-15.

In various embodiments, nucleic acid compositions can be modified at thebase moiety, sugar moiety or phosphate backbone to improve, e.g., thestability, hybridization, or solubility of the molecule. For example,the deoxyribose phosphate backbone of the nucleic acids can be modifiedto generate peptide nucleic acids (see Hyrup et al., 1996, Bioorganic &Medicinal Chemistry 4(1): 5-23). As used herein, the terms “peptidenucleic acids” or “PNAs” refer to nucleic acid mimics, e.g., DNA mimics,in which the deoxyribose phosphate backbone is replaced by apseudopeptide backbone and only the four natural nucleobases areretained. The neutral backbone of PNAs has been shown to allow forspecific hybridization to DNA and RNA under conditions of low ionicstrength. The synthesis of PNA oligomers can be performed using standardsolid phase peptide synthesis protocols as described in Hyrup et al.,1996, supra; Perry-O'Keefe et al., 1996, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93:14670-675. PNAs can, for example, be modified, e.g., to enhance theirstability or cellular uptake, by attaching lipophilic or other helpergroups to PNA, by the formation of PNA-DNA chimeras, or by the use ofliposomes or other techniques of drug delivery known in the art. Forexample, PNA-DNA chimeras can be generated which may combine theadvantageous properties of PNA and DNA. Such chimeras allow DNArecognition enzymes, e.g., RNAse H and DNA polymerases, to interact withthe DNA portion while the PNA portion would provide high bindingaffinity and specificity. PNA-DNA chimeras can be linked using linkersof appropriate lengths selected in terms of base stacking, number ofbonds between the nucleobases, and orientation (Hyrup, 1996, supra). Thesynthesis of PNA-DNA chimeras can be performed as described in Hyrup,1996, supra, and Finn-et al., 1996, Nucleic Acids Res. 24(17):3357-63.For example, a DNA chain can be synthesized on a support using standardphosphoramidite coupling chemistry and modified nucleoside analogs.Compounds such as 5′-(4-methoxytrityl)amino-5′-deoxy-thymidinephosphoramidite can be used as a link between the PNA and the 5′ end ofDNA (Mag et al., 1989, Nucleic Acids Res. 17:5973-88). PNA monomers arethen coupled in a stepwise manner to produce a chimeric molecule with a5′ PNA segment and a 3′ DNA segment (Finn et al., 1996, Nucleic AcidsRes. 24(17):3357-63). Alternatively, chimeric molecules can besynthesized with a 5′ DNA segment and a 3′ PNA segment (Peterser et al.,1975, Bioorganic Med. Chem. Lett. 5:1119-11124).

In other embodiments, the oligonucleotide may include other appendedgroups such as peptides (e.g., for targeting host cell receptors invivo), or agents facilitating transport across the cell membrane (see,e.g., Letsinger et al., 1989, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:6553-6556;Lemaitre et al., 1987, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84:648-652;International Publication No. WO 88/09810) or the blood-brain barrier(see, e.g., International Publication No. WO 89/10134). In addition,oligonucleotides can be modified with hybridization-triggered cleavageagents (see, e.g., Krol et al., 1988, Bio/Techniques 6:958-976) orintercalating agents (see, e.g., Zon, 1988, Pharm. Res. 5:539-549). Tothis end, the oligonucleotide may be conjugated to another molecule,e.g., a peptide, hybridization triggered cross-linking agent, transportagent, hybridization-triggered cleavage agent, etc.

5.17.2 Antibody Compositions

In one embodiment, antibodies that specifically bind to one or moreprotein products of one or more biomarkers of the invention areadministered to a subject, preferably a human, to prevent, treat, manageor ameliorate schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder or a symptomthereof. In another embodiment, any combination of antibodies thatspecifically bind to one or more protein products of one or morebiomarkers of the invention are administered to a subject, preferably ahuman, to prevent, treat, manage or ameliorate schizophrenia and/orbipolar disorder or a symptom thereof. In a specific embodiment, one ormore antibodies that specifically bind to one or more protein productsof one or more biomarkers of the invention are administered to asubject, preferably a human, in combination with other types oftherapies (e.g., NSAIDS) to prevent, treat, manage or ameliorateschizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder or a symptom thereof. In certainembodiments, antibodies known in the art that specifically bind to oneor more protein products of one or more biomarkers of the invention areadministered to a subject, preferably a human, alone or in combinationwith other types of therapies (e.g., NSAIDS) to prevent, treat, manageor ameliorate schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder or a symptomthereof. In other embodiments, antibodies known in the art thatspecifically bind to one or more protein products of one or morebiomarkers of the invention are not administered to a subject,preferably a human, alone or in combination with other types oftherapies (e.g., NSAIDS) to prevent, treat, manage or ameliorateschizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder or a symptom thereof.

One or more antibodies that specifically bind to one or more proteinproducts of one or more biomarkers of the invention can be administeredto a subject, preferably a human, using various delivery systems areknown to those of skill in the art. For example, such antibodies can beadministered by encapsulation in liposomes, microparticles ormicrocapsules. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,762,904, 6,004,534, andInternational Publication No. WO 99/52563. In addition, such antibodiescan be administered using recombinant cells capable of expressing theantibodies, or retroviral, other viral vectors or non-viral vectorscapable of expressing the antibodies.

Antibodies that specifically bind one or more protein products of one ormore biomarkers of the invention can be obtained from any known source.For example, Table 5 provides a list of commercially availableantibodies specific for one or more of the protein products of thebiomarkers of the invention. Alternatively, antibodies that specificallybind to one or more protein products of one or more biomarkers of theinvention can be produced by any method known in the art for thesynthesis of antibodies, in particular, by chemical synthesis orpreferably, by recombinant expression techniques.

Antibodies include, but are not limited to, polyclonal antibodies,monoclonal antibodies, bispecific antibodies, multispecific antibodies,human antibodies, humanized antibodies, camelised antibodies, chimericantibodies, single-chain Fvs (scFv) (see e.g., Bird et al. (1988)Science 242:423-426; and Huston et al. (1988) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA85:5879-5883), single chain antibodies, single domain antibodies, Fabfragments, F(ab′) fragments, disulfide-linked Fvs (sdFv), andanti-idiotypic (anti-Id) antibodies (including, e.g., anti-Id antibodiesto antibodies of the invention), and epitope-binding fragments of any ofthe above. The term “antibody”, as used herein, refers to immunoglobulinmolecules and immunologically active fragments of immunoglobulinmolecules, i.e., molecules that contain an antigen binding site.Immunoglobulin molecules can be of any type (e.g., IgG, IgE, IgM, IgD,IgA and IgY), class (e.g., IgG₁, IgG₂, IgG₃, IgG₄, IgA₁ and IgA₂) orsubclass. Examples of immunologically active fragments of immunoglobulinmolecules include F(ab) fragments (a monovalent fragment consisting ofthe VL, VH, CL and CH1 domains) and F(ab′)2 fragments (a bivalentfragment comprising two Fab fragments linked by a disulfide bridge atthe hinge region) which can be generated by treating the antibody withan enzyme such as pepsin or papain. Immunologically active fragmentsalso include, but are not limited to, Fd fragments (consisting of the VHand CH1 domains), Fv fragments (consisting of the VL and VH domains of asingle arm of an antibody), dAb fragments (consisting of a VH domain;Ward et al., (1989) Nature 341:544-546), and isolated complementaritydetermining regions (CDRs). Antibodies that specifically bind to anantigen can be produced by any method known in the art for the synthesisof antibodies, in particular, by chemical synthesis or preferably, byrecombinant expression techniques.

Polyclonal antibodies that specifically bind to an antigen can beproduced by various procedures well-known in the art. For example, ahuman antigen can be administered to various host animals including, butnot limited to, rabbits, mice, rats, etc. to induce the production ofsera containing polyclonal antibodies specific for the human antigen.Various adjuvants may be used to increase the immunological response,depending on the host species, and include but are not limited to,Freund's (complete and incomplete), mineral gels such as aluminumhydroxide, surface active substances such as lysolecithin, pluronicpolyols, polyanions, peptides, oil emulsions, keyhole limpethemocyanins, dinitrophenol, and potentially useful human adjuvants suchas BCG (bacille Calmette-Guerin) and corynebacterium parvum. Suchadjuvants are also well known in the art.

The term “monospecific antibody” refers to an antibody that displays asingle binding specificity and affinity for a particular target, e.g.,epitope. This term includes monoclonal antibodies. Monoclonal antibodiescan be prepared using a wide variety of techniques known in the artincluding the use of hybridoma, recombinant, and phage displaytechnologies, or a combination thereof. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. RE32,011, 4,902,614, 4,543,439, 4,411,993 and 4,196,265; Kennett et al(eds.), Monoclonal Antibodies, Hybridomas: A New Dimension in BiologicalAnalyses, Plenum Press (1980); and Harlow and Lane (eds.), Antibodies. ALaboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press (1988), which areincorporated herein by reference. For example, monoclonal antibodies canbe produced using hybridoma techniques including those known in the artand taught, for example, in Harlow et al., Antibodies: A LaboratoryManual, (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 2nd ed. 1988); Hammerling,et al., in: Monoclonal Antibodies and T-Cell Hybridomas 563-681(Elsevier, N.Y., 1981) (said references incorporated by reference intheir entireties). Other techniques that enable the production ofantibodies through recombinant techniques (e.g., techniques described byWilliam D. Huse et al., 1989, Science, 246: 1275-1281; L. Sastry et al.,1989, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 86: 5728-5732; and MichelleAlting-Mees et al., Strategies in Molecular Biology, 3: 1-9 (1990)involving a commercial system available from Stratacyte, La Jolla,Calif.) may also be utilized to construct monoclonal antibodies. Theterm “monoclonal antibody” as used herein is not limited to antibodiesproduced through hybridoma technology. The term “monoclonal antibody”refers to an antibody that is derived from a single clone, including anyeukaryotic, prokaryotic, or phage clone, and not the method by which itis produced.

Methods for producing and screening for specific antibodies usinghybridoma technology are routine and well known in the art. Briefly,mice can be immunized with a protein product of a biomarker of theinvention, and once an immune response is detected, e.g., antibodiesspecific for the protein are detected in the mouse serum, the mousespleen is harvested and splenocytes isolated. The splenocytes are thenfused by well known techniques to any suitable myeloma cells, forexample cells from cell line SP20 available from the ATCC. Hybridomasare selected and cloned by limited dilution. Additionally, a RIMMS(repetitive immunization multiple sites) technique can be used toimmunize an animal (Kilptrack et al., 1997, Hybridoma 16:381-9,incorporated by reference in its entirety). The hybridoma clones arethen assayed by methods known in the art for cells that secreteantibodies capable of binding a polypeptide of the invention. Ascitesfluid, which generally contains high levels of antibodies, can begenerated by immunizing mice with positive hybridoma clones.

Accordingly, the present invention provides methods of generatingantibodies by culturing a hybridoma cell secreting an antibody of theinvention wherein, preferably, the hybridoma is generated by fusingsplenocytes isolated from a mouse immunized with a protein product of abiomarker of the invention, with myeloma cells and then screening thehybridomas resulting from the fusion for hybridoma clones that secretean antibody able to bind to the protein or protein fragment.

Antibody fragments which recognize specific epitopes of a proteinproduct of a biomarker of the invention may be generated by anytechnique known to those of skill in the art. For example, Fab andF(ab′)2 fragments of the invention may be produced by proteolyticcleavage of immunoglobulin molecules, using enzymes such as papain (toproduce Fab fragments) or pepsin (to produce F(ab′)2 fragments). F(ab′)2fragments contain the variable region, the light chain constant regionand the CH1 domain of the heavy chain. Further, the antibodies of thepresent invention can also be generated using various phage displaymethods known in the art. In phage display methods, functional antibodydomains are displayed on the surface of phage particles which carry thepolynucleotide sequences encoding them. In particular, DNA sequencesencoding VH and VL domains are amplified from animal cDNA libraries(e.g., human or murine cDNA libraries of affected tissues). The DNAencoding the VH and VL domains are recombined together with an scFvlinker by PCR and cloned into a phagemid vector. The vector iselectroporated in E. coli and the E. coli is infected with helper phage.Phage used in these methods are typically filamentous phage including fdand M13 and the VH and VL domains are usually recombinantly fused toeither the phage gene III or gene VIII. Phage expressing an antigenbinding domain that binds to a particular antigen can be selected oridentified with antigen, e.g., using labeled antigen or antigen bound orcaptured to a solid surface or bead. Examples of phage display methodsthat can be used to make the antibodies of the present invention includethose disclosed in Brinkman et al., 1995, J. Immunol. Methods 182:41-50;Ames et al., 1995, J. Immunol. Methods 184:177-186; Kettleborough etal., 1994, Eur. J. Immunol. 24:952-958; Persic et al., 1997, Gene187:9-18; Burton et al., 1994, Advances in Immunology 57:191-280; PCTApplication No. PCT/GB91/O1 134; International Publication Nos. WO90/02809, WO 91/10737, WO 92/01047, WO 92/18619, WO 93/1 1236, WO95/15982, WO 95/20401, and WO97/13844; and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,698,426,5,223,409, 5,403,484, 5,580,717, 5,427,908, 5,750,753, 5,821,047,5,571,698, 5,427,908, 5,516,637, 5,780,225, 5,658,727, 5,733,743 and5,969,108; each of which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

As described in the above references, after phage selection, theantibody coding regions from the phage can be isolated and used togenerate whole antibodies, including human antibodies, or any otherdesired antigen binding fragment, and expressed in any desired host,including mammalian cells, insect cells, plant cells, yeast, andbacteria, e.g., as described below. Techniques to recombinantly produceFab, Fab′ and F(ab′)2 fragments can also be employed using methods knownin the art such as those disclosed in International Publication No. WO92/22324; Mullinax et al., 1992, BioTechniques 12(6):864-869; Sawai etal., 1995, AJRI 34:26-34; and Better et al., 1988, Science 240:1041-1043(said references incorporated by reference in their entireties).

To generate whole antibodies, PCR primers including VH or VL nucleotidesequences, a restriction site, and a flanking sequence to protect therestriction site can be used to amplify the VH or VL sequences in scFvclones. Utilizing cloning techniques known to those of skill in the art,the PCR amplified VH domains can be cloned into vectors expressing a VHconstant region, e.g., the human gamma 4 constant region, and the PCRamplified VL domains can be cloned into vectors expressing a VL constantregion, e.g., human kappa or lamba constant regions. Preferably, thevectors for expressing the VH or VL domains comprise an EF-1α promoter,a secretion signal, a cloning site for the variable domain, constantdomains, and a selection marker such as neomycin. The VH and VL domainsmay also cloned into one vector expressing the necessary constantregions. The heavy chain conversion vectors and light chain conversionvectors are then co-transfected into cell lines to generate stable ortransient cell lines that express full-length antibodies, e.g., IgG,using techniques known to those of skill in the art. For some uses,including in vivo use of antibodies in humans and in vitro detectionassays, it may be preferable to use human or chimeric antibodies.Completely human antibodies are particularly desirable for therapeutictreatment of human subjects. Human antibodies can be made by a varietyof methods known in the art including phage display methods describedabove using antibody libraries derived from human immunoglobulinsequences. See also U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,444,887 and 4,716,111; andInternational Publication Nos. WO 98/46645, WO 98/50433, WO 98/24893,WO98/16654, WO 96/34096, WO 96/33735, and WO 91/10741; each of which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Antibodies can also be produced by a transgenic animal. In particular,human antibodies can be produced using transgenic mice which areincapable of expressing functional endogenous immunoglobulins, but whichcan express human immunoglobulin genes. For example, the human heavy andlight chain immunoglobulin gene complexes may be introduced randomly orby homologous recombination into mouse embryonic stem cells.Alternatively, the human variable region, constant region, and diversityregion may be introduced into mouse embryonic stem cells in addition tothe human heavy and light chain genes. The mouse heavy and light chainimmunoglobulin genes may be rendered non-functional separately orsimultaneously with the introduction of human immunoglobulin loci byhomologous recombination. In particular, homozygous deletion of theJ_(H) region prevents endogenous antibody production. The modifiedembryonic stem cells are expanded and microinjected into blastocysts toproduce chimeric mice. The chimeric mice are then be bred to producehomozygous offspring which express human antibodies. The transgenic miceare immunized in the normal fashion with a selected antigen, e.g., allor a portion of a polypeptide of the invention. Monoclonal antibodiesdirected against the antigen can be obtained from the immunized,transgenic mice using conventional hybridoma technology. The humanimmunoglobulin transgenes harbored by the transgenic mice rearrangeduring B cell differentiation, and subsequently undergo class switchingand somatic mutation. Thus, using such a technique, it is possible toproduce therapeutically useful IgG, IgA, IgM and IgE antibodies. For anoverview of this technology for producing human antibodies, see Lonbergand Huszar (1995, Int. Rev. Immunol. 13:65-93). For a detaileddiscussion of this technology for producing human antibodies and humanmonoclonal antibodies and protocols for producing such antibodies, see,e.g., International Publication Nos. WO 98/24893, WO 96/34096, and WO96/33735; and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,413,923, 5,625,126, 5,633,425, 5,569,825,5,661,016, 5,545,806, 5,814,318, and 5,939,598, which are incorporatedby reference herein in their entirety. In addition, companies such asAbgenix, Inc. (Freemont, Calif.) and Genpharm (San Jose, Calif.) can beengaged to provide human antibodies directed against a selected antigenusing technology similar to that described above.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,849,992, for example, describes a method of expressingan antibody in the mammary gland of a transgenic mammal. A transgene isconstructed that includes a milk-specific promoter and nucleic acidsencoding the antibody of interest and a signal sequence for secretion.The milk produced by females of such transgenic mammals includes,secreted-therein, the antibody of interest. The antibody can be purifiedfrom the milk, or for some applications, used directly.

A chimeric antibody is a molecule in which different portions of theantibody are derived from different immunoglobulin molecules. Methodsfor producing chimeric antibodies are known in the art. See e.g.,Morrison, 1985, Science 229:1202; Oi et al., 1986, BioTechniques 4:214;Gillies et al., 1989, J. Immunol. Methods 125:191-202; and U.S. Pat.Nos. 5,807,715, 4,816,567, 4,816,397, and 6,331,415, which areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety. A humanized antibodyis an antibody or its variant or fragment thereof which is capable ofbinding to a predetermined antigen and which comprises a frameworkregion having substantially the amino acid sequence of a humanimmunoglobulin and a CDR having substantially the amino acid sequence ofa non-human immuoglobulin. A humanized antibody comprises substantiallyall of at least one, and typically two, variable domains (Fab, Fab′,F(ab′).sub.2, Fabc, Fv) in which all or substantially all of the CDRregions correspond to those of a non-human immunoglobulin (i.e., donorantibody) and all or substantially all of the framework regions arethose of a human immunoglobulin consensus sequence. Preferably, ahumanized antibody also comprises at least a portion of animmunoglobulin constant region (Fc), typically that of a humanimmunoglobulin. Ordinarily, the antibody will contain both the lightchain as well as at least the variable domain of a heavy chain. Theantibody also may include the CH1, hinge, CH2, CH3, and CH4 regions ofthe heavy chain. The humanized antibody can be selected from any classof immunoglobulins, including IgM, IgG, IgD, IgA and IgE, and anyisotype, including IgG₁, IgG₂, IgG₃ and IgG₄. Usually the constantdomain is a complement fixing constant domain where it is desired thatthe humanized antibody exhibit cytotoxic activity, and the class istypically IgG₁. Where such cytotoxic activity is not desirable, theconstant domain may be of the IgG₂ class. The humanized antibody maycomprise sequences from more than one class or isotype, and selectingparticular constant domains to optimize desired effector functions iswithin the ordinary skill in the art. The framework and CDR regions of ahumanized antibody need not correspond precisely to the parentalsequences, e.g., the donor CDR or the consensus framework may bemutagenized by substitution, insertion or deletion of at least oneresidue so that the CDR or framework residue at that site does notcorrespond to either the consensus or the import antibody. Suchmutations, however, will not be extensive. Usually, at least 75% of thehumanized antibody residues will correspond to those of the parental FRand CDR sequences, more often 90%, and most preferably greater than 95%.Humanized antibody can be produced using variety of techniques known inthe art, including but not limited to, CDR-grafting (European Patent No.EP 239,400; International Publication No. WO 91/09967; and U.S. Pat.Nos. 5,225,539, 5,530,101, and 5,585,089), veneering or resurfacing(European Patent Nos. EP 592,106 and EP 519,596; Padlan, 1991, MolecularImmunology 28(4/5):489-498; Studnicka et al., 1994, Protein Engineering7(6):805-814; and Roguska et al., 1994, PNAS 91:969-973), chainshuffling (U.S. Pat. No. 5,565,332), and techniques disclosed in, e.g.,U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,407,213, 5,766,886, WO 9317105, Tan et al., 2002, J.Immunol. 169:1119-25, Caldas et al., 2000, Protein Eng. 13(5):353-60,Morea et al., 2000, Methods 20(3):267-79, Baca et al., 1997, J. Biol.Chem. 272(16):10678-84, Roguska et al., 1996, Protein Eng.9(10):895-904, Couto et al., 1995, Cancer Res. 55 (23 Supp):5973s-5977s,Couto et al., 1995, Cancer Res. 55(8):1717-22, Sandhu JS, 1994, Gene150(2):409-10, and Pedersen et al., 1994, J. Mol. Biol. 235(3):959-73.Often, framework residues in the framework regions will be substitutedwith the corresponding residue from the CDR donor antibody to alter,preferably improve, antigen binding. These framework substitutions areidentified by methods well known in the art, e.g., by modeling of theinteractions of the CDR and framework residues to identify frameworkresidues important for antigen binding and sequence comparison toidentify unusual framework residues at particular positions. (See, e.g.,Queen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,585,089; and Riechmann et al., 1988,Nature 332:323, which are incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties.) Single domain antibodies, for example, antibodies lackingthe light chains, can be produced by methods well-known in the art. SeeRiechmann et al., 1999, J. Immuno. 231:25-38; Nuttall et al., 2000,Curr. Pharm. Biotechnol. 1(3):253-263; Muylderman, 2001, J. Biotechnol.74(4):277302; U.S. Pat. No. 6,005,079; and International PublicationNos. WO 94/04678, WO 94/25591, and WO 01/44301, each of which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Further, theantibodies that specifically bind to an antigen can, in turn, beutilized to generate anti-idiotype antibodies that “mimic” an antigenusing techniques well known to those skilled in the art. (See, e.g.,Greenspan & Bona, 1989, FASEB J. 7(5):437-444; and Nissinoff, 1991, J.Immunol. 147(8):2429-2438). Such antibodies can be used, alone or incombination with other therapies, in the prevention, treatment,management or amelioration of schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder or asymptom thereof.

The invention encompasses polynucleotides comprising a nucleotidesequence encoding an antibody or fragment thereof that specificallybinds to an antigen. The invention also encompasses polynucleotides thathybridize under high stringency, intermediate or lower stringencyhybridization conditions to polynucleotides that encode an antibody ofthe invention. The polynucleotides may be obtained, and the nucleotidesequence of the polynucleotides determined, by any method known in theart. The nucleotide sequences encoding known antibodies can bedetermined using methods well known in the art, i.e., nucleotide codonsknown to encode particular amino acids are assembled in such a way togenerate a nucleic acid that encodes the antibody. Such a polynucleotideencoding the antibody may be assembled from chemically synthesizedoligonucleotides (e.g., as described in Kutmeier et al., 1994,BioTechniques 17:242), which, briefly, involves the synthesis ofoverlapping oligonucleotides containing portions of the sequenceencoding the antibody, fragments, or variants thereof, annealing andligating of those oligonucleotides, and then amplification of theligated oligonucleotides by PCR.

Alternatively, a polynucleotide encoding an antibody may be generatedfrom nucleic acid from a suitable source. If a clone containing anucleic acid encoding a particular antibody is not available, but thesequence of the antibody molecule is known, a nucleic acid encoding theimmunoglobulin may be chemically synthesized or obtained from a suitablesource (e.g., an antibody cDNA library or a cDNA library generated from,or nucleic acid, preferably poly A+ RNA, isolated from, any tissue orcells expressing the antibody, such as hybridoma cells selected toexpress an antibody of the invention) by PCR amplification usingsynthetic primers hybridizable to the 3′ and 5′ ends of the sequence orby cloning using an oligonucleotide probe specific for the particulargene sequence to identify, e.g., a cDNA clone from a cDNA library thatencodes the antibody. Amplified nucleic acids generated by PCR may thenbe cloned into replicable cloning vectors using any method well known inthe art.

Once the nucleotide sequence of the antibody is determined, thenucleotide sequence of the antibody may be manipulated using methodswell known in the art for the manipulation of nucleotide sequences,e.g., recombinant DNA techniques, site directed mutagenesis, PCR, etc.(see, for example, the techniques described in Sambrook et al., 1990,Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual, 2d Ed., Cold Spring HarborLaboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. and Ausubel et al., eds., 1998,Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, NY, which areboth incorporated by reference herein in their entireties), to generateantibodies having a different amino acid sequence, for example to createamino acid substitutions, deletions, and/or insertions.

Once a polynucleotide encoding an antibody molecule, heavy or lightchain of an antibody, or fragment thereof (preferably, but notnecessarily, containing the heavy or light chain variable domain) of theinvention has been obtained, the vector for the production of theantibody molecule may be produced by recombinant DNA technology usingtechniques well-known in the art.

In one preferred embodiment, monoclonal antibodies are produced inmammalian cells. Preferred mammalian host cells for expressing the cloneantibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof include Chinese HamsterOvary (CHO cells) (including dhfr-CHO cells, described in Urlaub andChasin (1980, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 77:4216-4220), used with a DHFRselectable marker, e.g., as described in Kaufman and Sharp (1982, Mol.Biol. 159:601-621), lymphocytic cell lines, e.g., NS0 myeloma cells andSP2 cells, COS cells, and a cell from a transgenic animal, e.g., atransgenic mammal. For example, the cell is a mammary epithelial cell.In addition to the nucleic acid sequence encoding the diversifiedimmunoglobulin domain, the recombinant expression vectors may carryadditional sequences, such as sequences that regulate replication of thevector in host cells (e.g., origins of replication) and selectablemarker genes. The selectable marker gene facilitates selection of hostcells into which the vector has been introduced (see e.g., U.S. Pat.Nos. 4,399,216, 4,634,665 and 5,179,017). For example, typically theselectable marker gene confers resistance to drugs, such as G418,hygromycin or methotrexate, on a host cell into which the vector hasbeen introduced. Preferred selectable marker genes include thedihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene (for use in dhfr⁻ host cells withmethotrexate selection/amplification) and the neo gene (for G418selection). In an exemplary system for recombinant expression of anantibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, of the invention, arecombinant expression vector encoding both the antibody heavy chain andthe antibody light chain is introduced into dhfr⁻ CHO cells by calciumphosphate-mediated transfection. Within the recombinant expressionvector, the antibody heavy and light chain genes are each operativelylinked to enhancer/promoter regulatory elements (e.g., derived fromSV40, CMV, adenovirus and the like, such as a CMV enhancer/AdMLPpromoter regulatory element or an SV40 enhancer/AdMLP promoterregulatory element) to drive high levels of transcription of the genes.The recombinant expression vector also carries a DHFR gene, which allowsfor selection of CHO cells that have been transfected with the vectorusing methotrexate selection/amplification. The selected transformanthost cells are cultured to allow for expression of the antibody heavyand light chains and intact antibody is recovered from the culturemedium. Standard molecular biology techniques are used to prepare therecombinant expression vector, transfect the host cells, select fortransformants, culture the host cells and recover the antibody from theculture medium. For example, some antibodies can be isolated by affinitychromatography with a Protein A or Protein G.

For antibodies that include an Fc domain, the antibody production systempreferably synthesizes antibodies in which the Fc region isglycosylated. For example, the Fc domain of IgG molecules isglycosylated at asparagine 297 in the CH2 domain. This asparagine is thesite for modification with biantennary-type oligosaccharides. It hasbeen demonstrated that this glycosylation is required for effectorfunctions mediated by Fcγ receptors and complement C1q (Burton and Woof,1992, Adv. Immunol. 51:1-84; Jefferis et al., 1998, Immunol. Rev.163:59-76). In a preferred embodiment, the Fc domain is produced in amammalian expression system that appropriately glycosylates the residuecorresponding to asparagine 297. The Fc domain can also include othereukaryotic post-translational modifications.

Once an antibody molecule has been produced by recombinant expression,it may be purified by any method known in the art for purification of animmunoglobulin molecule, for example, by chromatography (e.g., ionexchange, affinity, particularly by affinity for the specific antigenafter Protein A, and sizing column chromatography), centrifugation,differential solubility, or by any other standard technique for thepurification of proteins. Further, the antibodies or fragments thereofmay be fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences known in the art tofacilitate purification.

5.17.3 Gene Therapy Techniques

Gene therapy refers to therapy performed by the administration to asubject of an expressed or expressible nucleic acid. Any of the methodsfor gene therapy available in the art can be used according to thepresent invention. Exemplary methods are described below.

In specific embodiments, one or more antisense oligonucleotides for oneor more biomarkers of the invention are administered to prevent, treat,manage or ameliorate schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder or a symptomthereof, by way of gene therapy. In other embodiments, one or morenucleic acid molecules comprising nucleotides encoding one or moreantibodies that specifically bind to one or more protein products of oneor more biomarkers of the invention are administered to prevent, treat,manage or ameliorate schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder or a symptomthereof, by way of gene therapy. In other embodiments, one or morenucleic acid molecules comprising nucleotides encoding protein productsof one or more biomarkers of the invention or analogs, derivatives orfragments thereof, are administered to prevent, treat, manage orameliorate schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder or a symptom thereof,by way of gene therapy. In yet other embodiments, one or more nucleicacid molecules comprising nucleotides encoding one or moredominant-negative polypeptides of one or more protein products of one ormore biomarker of the invention are administered to prevent, treat,manage or ameliorate schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder or a symptomthereof, by way of gene therapy.

For general reviews of the methods of gene therapy, see Goldspiel etal., 1993, Clinical Pharmacy 12:488-505; Wu and Wu, 1991, Biotherapy3:87-95; Tolstoshev, 1993, Ann. Rev. Pharmacol. Toxicol. 32:573-596;Mulligan, 1993, Science 260:926-932; and Morgan and Anderson, 1993, Ann.Rev. Biochem. 62:191-217; May, 1993, TIBTECH 11(5):155-215). Methodscommonly known in the art of recombinant DNA technology which can beused are described in Ausubel et al. (eds.), 1993, Current Protocols inMolecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, NY; and Kriegler, 1990, GeneTransfer and Expression, A Laboratory Manual, Stockton Press, NY. In oneaspect, a composition of the invention comprises nucleic acid sequencesencoding one or more antibodies that specifically bind to one or moreprotein products of one or more biomarkers of the invention, saidnucleic acid sequences being part of expression vectors that express oneor more antibodies in a suitable host. In particular, such nucleic acidsequences have promoters operably linked to the antibodies, saidpromoter being inducible or constitutive, and, optionally,tissue-specific.

In another aspect, a composition of the invention comprises nucleic acidsequences encoding dominant-negative polypeptides of one or proteinproducts of one or more biomarkers of the invention, said nucleic acidsequences being part of expression vectors that expressdominant-negative polypeptides in a suitable host. In particular, suchnucleic acid sequences have promoters operably linked to thedominant-negative polypeptides, said promoter being inducible orconstitutive, and, optionally, tissue-specific. In another particularembodiment, nucleic acid molecules are used in which thedominant-negative coding sequences and any other desired sequences areflanked by regions that promote homologous recombination at a desiredsite in the genome, thus providing for intrachromosomal expression ofthe dominant-negative nucleic acids (Koller and Smithies, 1989, Proc.Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:8932-8935; Zijlstra et al., 1989, Nature342:435-438).

Delivery of the nucleic acids into a patient may be either direct, inwhich case the patient is directly exposed to the nucleic acid ornucleic acid-carrying vectors, or indirect, in which case, cells arefirst transformed with the nucleic acids in vitro, then transplantedinto the patient. These two approaches are known, respectively, as invivo or ex vivo gene therapy.

In a specific embodiment, the nucleic acid sequence is directlyadministered in vivo, where it is expressed to produce the encodedproduct. This can be accomplished by any of numerous methods known inthe art, e.g., by constructing it as part of an appropriate nucleic acidexpression vector and administering it so that they becomeintracellular, e.g., by infection using defective or attenuatedretrovirals or other viral vectors (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,980,286), or bydirect injection of naked DNA, or by use of microparticle bombardment(e.g., a gene gun; Biolistic, Dupont), or coating with lipids orcell-surface receptors or transfecting agents, encapsulation inliposomes, microparticles, or microcapsules, or by administering them inlinkage to a peptide which is known to enter the nucleus, byadministering it in linkage to a ligand subject to receptor-mediatedendocytosis (see, e.g., Wu and Wu, 1987, J. Biol. Chem. 262:4429-4432)(which can be used to target cell types specifically expressing thereceptors), etc. In another embodiment, nucleic acid-ligand complexescan be formed in which the ligand comprises a fusogenic viral peptide todisrupt endosomes, allowing the nucleic acid to avoid lysosomaldegradation. In yet another embodiment, the nucleic acid can be targetedin vivo for cell specific uptake and expression, by targeting a specificreceptor (see, e.g., International Publication Nos. WO 92/06180 datedApr. 16, 1992 (Wu et al.); WO 92/22635 dated Dec. 23, 1992 (Wilson etal.); WO92/20316 dated Nov. 26, 1992 (Findeis et al.); WO 93/14188 datedJul. 22, 1993 (Clarke et al.), WO 93/20221 dated Oct. 14, 1993 (Young)).Alternatively, the nucleic acid can be introduced intracellularly andincorporated within host cell DNA for expression, by homologousrecombination (Koller and Smithies, 1989, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA86:8932-8935; Zijistra et al., 1989, Nature 342:435-438).

For example, a retroviral vector can be used. These retroviral vectorshave been modified to delete retroviral sequences that are not necessaryfor packaging of the viral genome and integration into host cell DNA.The nucleic acid sequences encoding the antibodies of interest, orproteins of interest or fragments thereof to be used in gene therapy arecloned into one or more vectors, which facilitates delivery of the geneinto a patient. More detail about retroviral vectors can be found inBoesen et al., 1994, Biotherapy 6:291-302, which describes the use of aretroviral vector to deliver the mdr1 gene to hematopoietic stem cellsin order to make the stem cells more resistant to chemotherapy. Otherreferences illustrating the use of retroviral vectors in gene therapyare: Clowes et al., 1994, J. Clin. Invest. 93:644-651; Kiem et al.,1994, Blood 83:1467-1473; Salmons and Gunzberg, 1993, Human Gene Therapy4:129-141; and Grossman and Wilson, 1993, Curr. Opin. in Genetics andDevel. 3:110-114.

Adenoviruses are other viral vectors that can be used in gene therapy.Adenoviruses are especially attractive vehicles for delivering genes torespiratory epithelia. Adenoviruses naturally infect respiratoryepithelia where they cause a mild disease. Other targets foradenovirus-based delivery systems are liver, the central nervous system,endothelial cells, and muscle. Adenoviruses have the advantage of beingcapable of infecting non-dividing cells. Kozarsky and Wilson, 1993,Current Opinion in Genetics and Development 3:499-503 present a reviewof adenovirus-based gene therapy. Bout et al., 1994, Human Gene Therapy5:3-10 demonstrated the use of adenovirus vectors to transfer genes tothe respiratory epithelia of rhesus monkeys. Other instances of the useof adenoviruses in gene therapy can be found in Rosenfeld et al., 1991,Science 252:431-434; Rosenfeld et al., 1992, Cell 68:143-155;Mastrangeli et al., 1993, J. Clin. Invest. 91:225-234; PCT PublicationWO94/12649; and Wang, et al., 1995, Gene Therapy 2:775-783. In apreferred embodiment, adenovirus vectors are used.

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) has also been proposed for use in genetherapy (Walsh et al., 1993, Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 204:289-300;U.S. Pat. No. 5,436,146).

Another approach to gene therapy involves transferring a gene to cellsin tissue culture by such methods as electroporation, lipofection,calcium phosphate mediated transfection, or viral infection. Usually,the method of transfer includes the transfer of a selectable marker tothe cells. The cells are then placed under selection to isolate thosecells that have taken up and are expressing the transferred gene. Thosecells are then delivered to a patient.

In this embodiment, the nucleic acid is introduced into a cell prior toadministration in vivo of the resulting recombinant cell. Suchintroduction can be carried out by any method known in the art,including but not limited to transfection, electroporation,microinjection, infection with a viral or bacteriophage vectorcontaining the nucleic acid sequences, cell fusion, chromosome-mediatedgene transfer, microcell-mediated gene transfer, spheroplast fusion,etc. Numerous techniques are known in the art for the introduction offoreign genes into cells (see, e.g., Loeffler and Behr, 1993, Meth.Enzymol. 217:599-618; Cohen et al., 1993, Meth. Enzymol. 217:618-644;Cline, 1985, Pharmac. Ther. 29:69-92) and may be used in accordance withthe present invention, provided that the necessary developmental andphysiological functions of the recipient cells are not disrupted. Thetechnique should provide for the stable transfer of the nucleic acid tothe cell, so that the nucleic acid is expressible by the cell andpreferably heritable and expressible by its cell progeny.

The resulting recombinant cells can be delivered to a patient by variousmethods known in the art. Recombinant blood cells (e.g., hematopoieticstem or progenitor cells) and/or schizophrenia and/or bipolar disordercells are preferably administered intravenously. The amount of cellsenvisioned for use depends on the desired effect, patient state, etc.,and can be determined by one skilled in the art.

Cells into which a nucleic acid can be introduced for purposes of genetherapy encompass any desired, available cell type, and include but arenot limited to epithelial cells, endothelial cells, keratinocytes,schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder cells, fibroblasts, muscle cells,hepatocytes; blood cells such as T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes,monocytes, macrophages, neutrophils, eosinophils, megakaryocytes,granulocytes; various stem or progenitor cells, in particularhematopoietic stem or progenitor cells, e.g., as obtained from bonemarrow, umbilical cord blood, peripheral blood, fetal liver, etc.

In a preferred embodiment, the cell used for gene therapy is autologousto the patient.

In one embodiment in which recombinant cells are used in gene therapy,nucleic acid sequences encoding antibodies of interest, or proteins ofinterest or fragments thereof are introduced into the cells such thatthey are expressible by the cells or their progeny, and the recombinantcells are then administered in vivo for therapeutic effect. In aspecific embodiment, stem or progenitor cells are used. Any stem and/orprogenitor cells which can be isolated and maintained in vitro canpotentially be used in accordance with this embodiment of the presentinvention (see, e.g., International Publication No. WO 94/08598, datedApr. 28, 1994; Stemple and Anderson, 1992, Cell 71:973-985; Rheinwald,1980, Meth. Cell Bio. 21A:229; and Pittelkow and Scott, 1986, MayoClinic Proc. 61:771).

Promoters that may be used to control the expression of nucleic acidsequences encoding antibodies of interest, proteins of interest orfragments thereof may be constitutive, inducible or tissue-specific.Non-limiting examples include the SV40 early promoter region (Bemoistand Chambon, 1981, Nature 290:304-310), the promoter contained in the 3′long terminal repeat of Rous sarcoma virus (Yamamoto, et al., 1980, Cell22:787-797), the herpes thymidine kinase promoter (Wagner et al., 1981,Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 78:1441-1445), the regulatory sequences ofthe metallothionein gene (Brinster et al., 1982, Nature 296:39-42);prokaryotic expression vectors such as the β-lactamase promoter(VIIIa-Kamaroff et al., 1978, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 75:3727-3731),or the tac promoter (DeBoer et al., 1983, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA80:21-25); see also “Useful proteins from recombinant bacteria” inScientific American, 1980, 242:74-94; plant expression vectorscomprising the nopaline synthetase promoter region (Herrera-Estrella etal., Nature 303:209-213) or the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S RNApromoter (Gardner et al., 1981, Nucl. Acids Res. 9:2871), and thepromoter of the photosynthetic enzyme ribulose biphosphate carboxylase(Herrera-Estrella et al., 1984, Nature 310:115-120); promoter elementsfrom yeast or other fungi such as the Gal 4 promoter, the ADC (alcoholdehydrogenase) promoter, PGK (phosphoglycerol kinase) promoter, alkalinephosphatase promoter, and the following animal transcriptional controlregions, which exhibit tissue specificity and have been utilized intransgenic animals: elastase I gene control region which is active inpancreatic acinar cells (Swift et al., 1984, Cell 38:639-646; Ornitz etal., 1986, Cold Spring Harbor Symp. Quant. Biol. 50:399-409; MacDonald,1987, Hepatology 7:425-515); insulin gene control region which is activein pancreatic beta cells (Hanahan, 1985, Nature 315:115-122),immunoglobulin gene control region which is active in lymphoid cells(Grosschedl et al., 1984, Cell 38:647-658; Adames et al., 1985, Nature318:533-538; Alexander et al., 1987, Mol. Cell. Biol. 7:1436-1444),mouse mammary tumor virus control region which is active in testicular,breast, lymphoid and mast cells (Leder et al., 1986, Cell 45:485-495),albumin gene control region which is active in liver (Pinkert et al.,1987, Genes and Devel. 1:268-276), alpha-fetoprotein gene control regionwhich is active in liver (Krumlauf et al., 1985, Mol. Cell. Biol.5:1639-1648; Hammer et al., 1987, Science 235:53-58; alpha 1-antitrypsingene control region which is active in the liver (Kelsey et al., 1987,Genes and Devel. 1:161-171), beta-globin gene control region which isactive in myeloid cells (Mogram et al., 1985, Nature 315:338-340;Kollias et al., 1986, Cell 46:89-94; myelin basic protein gene controlregion which is active in oligodendrocyte cells in the brain (Readheadet al., 1987, Cell 48:703-712); myosin light chain-2 gene control regionwhich is active in skeletal muscle (Sani, 1985, Nature 314:283-286), andgonadotropic releasing hormone gene control region which is active inthe hypothalamus (Mason et al., 1986, Science 234:1372-1378).

In a specific embodiment, the nucleic acid to be introduced for purposesof gene therapy comprises an inducible promoter operably linked to thecoding region, such that expression of the nucleic acid is controllableby controlling the presence or absence of the appropriate inducer oftranscription.

5.18 Pharmaceutical Compositions

Biologically active compounds identified using the methods of theinvention or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof can beadministered to a patient, preferably a mammal, more preferably a human,suffering from schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. In a specificembodiment, a compound or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof isadministered to a patient, preferably a mammal, more preferably a human,suffering from schizophrenia or bipolar disorder: In another embodiment,a compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is administeredto a patient, preferably a mammal, more preferably a human, as apreventative measure against schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder. Inaccordance with these embodiments, the patient may be a child, an adultor elderly, wherein a “child” is a subject between the ages of 24 monthsof age and 18 years of age, an “adult” is a subject 18 years of age orolder, and “elderly” is a subject 65 years of age or older.

When administered to a patient, the compound or a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt thereof is preferably administered as component of acomposition that optionally comprises a pharmaceutically acceptablevehicle. The composition can be administered orally, or by any otherconvenient route, for example, by infusion or bolus injection, byabsorption through epithelial or mucocutaneous linings (e.g., oralmucosa, rectal, and intestinal mucosa, etc.) and may be administeredtogether with another biologically active agent. Administration can besystemic or local. Various delivery systems are known, e.g.,encapsulation in liposomes, microparticles, microcapsules, capsules,etc., and can be used to administer the compound and pharmaceuticallyacceptable salts thereof.

Methods of administration include but are not limited to intradermal,intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intravenous, subcutaneous, intranasal,epidural, oral, sublingual, intranasal, intracerebral, intravaginal,transdermal, rectally, by inhalation, or topically, particularly to theears, nose, eyes, or skin. The mode of administration is left to thediscretion of the practitioner. In most instances, administration willresult in the release of the compound or a pharmaceutically acceptablesalt thereof into the bloodstream.

In specific embodiments, it may be desirable to administer the compoundor a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof locally. This may beachieved, for example, and not by way of limitation, by local infusionduring surgery, topical application, e.g., in conjunction with a wounddressing after surgery, by injection, by means of a catheter, by meansof a suppository, or by means of an implant, said implant being of aporous, non-porous, or gelatinous material, including membranes, such assialastic membranes, or fibers. In a specific embodiment, a compound isadministered locally to one or more sections of the brain affected byschizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder.

In certain embodiments, it may be desirable to introduce the compound ora pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof into the central nervoussystem by any suitable route, including intraventricular, intrathecaland epidural injection. Intraventricular injection may be facilitated byan intraventricular catheter, for example, attached to a reservoir, suchas an Ommaya reservoir.

Pulmonary administration can also be employed, e.g., by use of aninhaler or nebulizer, and formulation with an aerosolizing agent, or viaperfusion in a fluorocarbon or synthetic pulmonary surfactant. Incertain embodiments, the compound and pharmaceutically acceptable saltsthereof can be formulated as a suppository, with traditional binders andvehicles such as triglycerides. In another embodiment, the compound andpharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof can be delivered in a vesicle,in particular a liposome (see Langer, 1990, Science 249:1527-1533; Treatet al., in Liposomes in the Therapy of Infectious Disease and Cancer,Lopez-Berestein and Fidler (eds.), Liss, New York, pp. 353-365 (1989);Lopez-Berestein, ibid., pp. 317-327; see generally ibid.).

In yet another embodiment, the compound and pharmaceutically acceptablesalts thereof can be delivered in a controlled release system (see,e.g., Goodson, in Medical Applications of Controlled Release, supra,vol. 2, pp. 115-138 (1984)). Other controlled-release systems discussedin the review by Langer, 1990, Science 249:1527-1533 may be used. In oneembodiment, a pump may be used (see Langer, supra; Sefton, 1987, CRCCrit. Ref. Biomed. Eng. 14:201; Buchwald et al., 1980, Surgery 88:507;Saudek et al., 1989, N. Engl. J. Med. 321:574). In another embodiment,polymeric materials can be used (see Medical Applications of ControlledRelease, Langer and Wise (eds.), CRC Pres., Boca Raton, Fla. (1974);Controlled Drug Bioavailability, Drug Product Design and Performance,Smolen and Ball (eds.), Wiley, New York (1984); Ranger and Peppas, 1983,J. Macromol. Sci. Rev. Macromol. Chem. 23:61; see also Levy et al.,1985, Science 228:190; During et al., 1989, Ann. Neurol. 25:351; Howardet al., 1989, J. Neurosurg. 71:105). In yet another embodiment, acontrolled-release system can be placed in proximity of a target RNA ofthe compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, thusrequiring only a fraction of the systemic dose.

The compounds described herein can be incorporated into pharmaceuticalcompositions suitable for administration. Such compositions typicallycomprise the active compound and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.As used herein the language “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” isintended to include any and all solvents, dispersion media, coatings,antibacterial and antifungal agents, isotonic and absorption delayingagents, and the like, compatible with pharmaceutical administration. Theuse of such media and agents for pharmaceutically active substances iswell known in the art. Except insofar as any conventional media or agentis incompatible with the active compound, use thereof in thecompositions is contemplated. Supplementary active compounds can also beincorporated into the compositions.

The invention includes methods for preparing pharmaceutical compositionsfor modulating the expression or activity of a polypeptide or nucleicacid of interest. Such methods comprise formulating a pharmaceuticallyacceptable carrier with an agent that modulates expression or activityof a polypeptide or nucleic acid of interest. Such compositions canfurther include additional active agents. Thus, the invention furtherincludes methods for preparing a pharmaceutical composition byformulating a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier with an agent thatmodulates expression or activity of a polypeptide or nucleic acid ofinterest and one or more additional active compounds.

A pharmaceutical composition of the invention is formulated to becompatible with its intended route of administration. Examples of routesof administration include parenteral, e.g., intravenous, intradermal,subcutaneous, oral (e.g., inhalation), transdermal (topical),transmucosal, and rectal administration. Intravenous administration ispreferred. Solutions or suspensions used for parenteral, intradermal, orsubcutaneous application can include the following components: a sterilediluent such as water for injection, saline solution, fixed oils,polyethylene glycols, glycerine, propylene glycol or other syntheticsolvents; antibacterial agents such as benzyl alcohol or methylparabens; antioxidants such as ascorbic acid or sodium bisulfite;chelating agents such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; buffers suchas acetates, citrates or phosphates and agents for the adjustment oftonicity such as sodium chloride or dextrose. pH can be adjusted withacids or bases, such as hydrochloric acid or sodium hydroxide. Theparenteral preparation can be enclosed in ampoules, disposable syringesor multiple dose vials made of glass or plastic.

Pharmaceutical compositions suitable for injectable use include sterileaqueous solutions (where water soluble) or dispersions and sterilepowders for the extemporaneous preparation of sterile injectablesolutions or dispersions. For intravenous administration, suitablecarriers include physiological saline, bacteriostatic water, CremophorEL™ (BASF; Parsippany, N.J.) or phosphate buffered saline (PBS). In allcases, the composition must be sterile and should be fluid to the extentthat easy syringability exists. It must be stable under the conditionsof manufacture and storage and must be preserved against thecontaminating action of microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. Thecarrier can be a solvent or dispersion medium containing, for example,water, ethanol, polyol (for example, glycerol, propylene glycol, andliquid polyetheylene glycol, and the like), and suitable mixturesthereof. The proper fluidity can be maintained, for example, by the useof a coating such as lecithin, by the maintenance of the requiredparticle size in the case of dispersion and by the use of surfactants.Prevention of the action of microorganisms can be achieved by variousantibacterial and antifungal agents, for example, parabens,chlorobutanol, phenol, ascorbic acid, thimerosal, and the like. In manycases, it will be preferable to include isotonic agents, for example,sugars, polyalcohols such as mannitol, sorbitol, sodium chloride in thecomposition. Prolonged absorption of the injectable compositions can bebrought about by including in the composition an agent which delaysabsorption, for example, aluminum monostearate and gelatin.

Sterile injectable solutions can be prepared by incorporating the activecompound (e.g., a polypeptide or antibody) in the required amount in anappropriate solvent with one or a combination of ingredients enumeratedabove, as required, followed by filtered sterilization. Generally,dispersions are prepared by incorporating the active compound into asterile vehicle which contains a basic dispersion medium and therequired other ingredients from those enumerated above. In the case ofsterile powders for the preparation of sterile injectable solutions, thepreferred methods of preparation are vacuum drying and freeze-dryingwhich yields a powder of the active ingredient plus any additionaldesired ingredient from a previously sterile-filtered solution thereof.

Oral compositions generally include an inert diluent or an ediblecarrier. They can be enclosed in gelatin capsules or compressed intotablets. For the purpose of oral therapeutic administration, the activecompound can be incorporated with excipients and used in the form oftablets, troches, or capsules. Oral compositions can also be preparedusing a fluid carrier for use as a mouthwash, wherein the compound inthe fluid carrier is applied orally and swished and expectorated orswallowed.

Pharmaceutically compatible binding agents, and/or adjuvant materialscan be included as part of the composition. The tablets, pills,capsules, troches and the like can contain any of the followingingredients, or compounds of a similar nature: a binder such asmicrocrystalline cellulose, gum tragacanth or gelatin; an excipient suchas starch or lactose, a disintegrating agent such as alginic acid,Primogel, or corn starch; a lubricant such as magnesium stearate orSterotes; a glidant such as colloidal silicon dioxide; a sweeteningagent such as sucrose or saccharin; or a flavoring agent such aspeppermint, methyl salicylate, or orange flavoring.

For administration by inhalation, the compounds are delivered in theform of an aerosol spray from a pressurized container or dispenser whichcontains a suitable propellant, e.g., a gas such as carbon dioxide, or anebulizer.

Systemic administration can also be by transmucosal or transdermalmeans. For transmucosal or transdermal administration, penetrantsappropriate to the barrier to be permeated are used in the formulation.Such penetrants are generally known in the art, and include, forexample, for transmucosal administration, detergents, bile salts, andfusidic acid derivatives. Transmucosal administration can beaccomplished through the use of nasal sprays or suppositories. Fortransdermal administration, the active compounds are formulated intoointments, salves, gels, or creams as generally known in the art.

The compounds can also be prepared in the form of suppositories (e.g.,with conventional suppository bases such as cocoa butter and otherglycerides) or retention enemas for rectal delivery.

In one embodiment, the active compounds are prepared with carriers thatwill protect the compound against rapid elimination from the body, suchas a controlled release formulation, including implants andmicroencapsulated delivery systems. Biodegradable, biocompatiblepolymers can be used, such as ethylene vinyl acetate, polyanhydrides,polyglycolic acid, collagen, polyorthoesters, and polylactic acid.Methods for preparation of such formulations will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art. The materials can also be obtained commercially fromAlza Corporation and Nova Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Liposomal suspensions(including liposomes targeted to infected cells with monoclonalantibodies to viral antigens) can also be used as pharmaceuticallyacceptable carriers. These can be prepared according to methods known tothose skilled in the art, for example, as described in U.S. Pat. No.4,522,811.

It is especially advantageous to formulate oral or parenteralcompositions in dosage unit form for ease of administration anduniformity of dosage. Dosage unit form as used herein refers tophysically discrete units suited as unitary dosages for the subject tobe treated; each unit containing a predetermined quantity of activecompound calculated to produce the desired therapeutic effect inassociation with the required pharmaceutical carrier. The specificationfor the dosage unit forms of the invention are dictated by and directlydependent on the unique characteristics of the active compound and theparticular therapeutic effect to be achieved, and the limitationsinherent in the art of compounding such an active compound for thetreatment of individuals.

For antibodies, the preferred dosage is 0.1 mg/kg to 100 mg/kg of bodyweight (more preferably, 0.1 to 20 mg/kg, 0.1-10 mg/kg, or 0.1 to 1.0mg/kg). If the antibody is to act in the brain, a dosage of 50 mg/kg to100 mg/kg is usually appropriate. Generally, partially human antibodiesand fully human antibodies have a longer half-life within the human bodythan other antibodies. Accordingly, lower dosages and less frequentadministration is often possible. Modifications such as lipidation canbe used to stabilize antibodies and to enhance uptake and tissuepenetration (e.g., into the brain). A method for lipidation ofantibodies is described by Cruikshank et al. (1997, J. Acquired ImmuneDeficiency Syndromes and Human Retrovirology 14:193).

In a specific embodiment, an effective amount of protein or polypeptide(i.e., an effective dosage) ranges from about 0.001 to 30 mg/kg bodyweight, preferably about 0.01 to 25 mg/kg body weight, more preferablyabout 0.1 to 20 mg/kg body weight, and even more preferably about 0.1 to1.0 mg/kg, 1 to 10 mg/kg, 2 to 9 mg/kg, 3 to 8 mg/kg, 4 to 7 mg/kg, or 5to 6 mg/kg body weight.

The skilled artisan will appreciate that certain factors may influencethe dosage required to effectively treat a subject, including but notlimited to the severity of the disease or disorder, previous treatments,the general health and/or age of the subject, and other diseasespresent. Moreover, treatment of a subject with a therapeuticallyeffective amount of a protein, polypeptide, or antibody can include asingle treatment or, preferably, can include a series of treatments.

In addition to those compounds described above, the present inventionencompasses the use of small molecules that modulate expression oractivity of a nucleic acid or polypeptide of interest. Non-limitingexamples of small molecules include peptides, peptidomimetics, aminoacids, amino acid analogs, polynucleotides, polynucleotide analogs,nucleotides, nucleotide analogs, organic or inorganic compounds (i.e.,including heteroorganic and organometallic compounds) having a molecularweight less than about 10,000 grams per mole, organic or inorganiccompounds having a molecular weight less than about 5,000 grams permole, organic or inorganic compounds having a molecular weight less thanabout 1,000 grams per mole, organic or inorganic compounds having amolecular weight less than about 500 grams per mole, and salts, esters,and other pharmaceutically acceptable forms of such compounds.

It is understood that appropriate doses of small molecule agents dependsupon a number of factors within the ken of the ordinarily skilledphysician, veterinarian, or researcher. The dose(s) of the smallmolecule will vary, for example, depending upon the identity, size, andcondition of the subject or sample being treated, further depending uponthe route by which the composition is to be administered, if applicable,and the effect which the practitioner desires the small molecule to haveupon the nucleic acid or polypeptide of the invention. Exemplary dosesinclude milligram or microgram amounts of the small molecule perkilogram of subject or sample weight (e.g., about 1 microgram perkilogram to about 500 milligrams per kilogram, about 100 micrograms perkilogram to about 5 milligrams per kilogram, or about 1 microgram perkilogram to about 50 micrograms per kilogram). It is furthermoreunderstood that appropriate doses of a small molecule depend upon thepotency of the small molecule with respect to the expression or activityto be modulated. Such appropriate doses may be determined using theassays described herein. When one or more of these small molecules is tobe administered to a subject (e.g., a human) in order to modulateexpression or activity of a polypeptide or nucleic acid of theinvention, a physician, veterinarian, or researcher may, for example,prescribe a relatively low dose at first, subsequently increasing thedose until an appropriate response is obtained. In addition, it isunderstood that the specific dose level for any particular animalsubject will depend upon a variety of factors including the activity ofthe specific compound employed, the age, body weight, general health,gender, and diet of the subject, the time of administration, the routeof administration, the rate of excretion, any drug combination, and thedegree of expression or activity to be modulated.

The pharmaceutical compositions can be included in a container, pack, ordispenser together with instructions for administration.

5.18 Kits

The present invention provides kits for measuring the expression of theprotein and RNA products of at least 1, at least 2, at least 3, at least4, at least 5, at least 6, at least 7, at least 8, at least 9, at least10, at least 12, at least 15, at least 20, at least 25, or all or anycombination of the biomarkers of the invention. Such kits comprisematerials and reagents required for measuring the expression of suchprotein and RNA products. In specific embodiments, the kits may furthercomprise one or more additional reagents employed in the variousmethods, such as: (1) reagents for purifying RNA from blood; (2) primersfor generating test nucleic acids; (3) dNTPs and/or rNTPs (eitherpremixed or separate), optionally with one or more uniquely labeleddNTPs and/or rNTPs (e.g., biotinylated or Cy3 or Cy5 tagged dNTPs); (4)post synthesis labeling reagents, such as chemically active derivativesof fluorescent dyes; (5) enzymes, such as reverse transcriptases, DNApolymerases, and the like; (6) various buffer mediums, e.g.,hybridization and washing buffers; (7) labeled probe purificationreagents and components, like spin columns, etc.; and (8) proteinpurification reagents; (9) signal generation and detection reagents,e.g., streptavidin-alkaline phosphatase conjugate, chemifluorescent orchemiluminescent substrate, and the like. In particular embodiments, thekits comprise prelabeled quality controlled protein and or RNA isolatedfrom a sample (e.g., blood) for use as a control.

In some embodiments, the kits are RT-PCR kits. In other embodiments, thekits are nucleic acid arrays and protein arrays. Such kits according tothe subject invention will at least comprise an array having associatedprotein or nucleic acid members of the invention and packaging meanstherefore. Alternatively the protein or nucleic acid members of theinvention may be prepackaged onto an array.

In some embodiments, the kits are Quantitative RT-PCR kits. In oneembodiment, the quantitative RT-PCR kit includes the following: (a)primers used to amplify each of a combination of biomarkers of theinvention; (b) buffers and enzymes including an reverse transcripate;(c) one or more thermos table polymerases; and (d) Sybr® Green. In apreferred embodiment, the kit of the invention also includes (a) areference control RNA and (b) a spiked control RNA.

The invention provides kits that are useful for diagnosing schizophreniaand/or bipolar disorder. For example, in a particular embodiment of theinvention a kit is comprised a forward and reverse primer wherein theforward and reverse primer are designed to quantitate expression of allof the species of mRNA corresponding to each of the biomarkers asidentified in Table 2. In certain embodiments, at least one of theprimers is designed to span an exon junction.

The invention provides kits that are useful for detecting, diagnosing,monitoring and prognosing schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder basedupon the expression of protein or RNA products of at least 1, at least2, at least 3, at least 4, at least 5, at least 6, at least 7, or all orany combination of the biomarkers of the invention in a sample. Incertain embodiments, such kits do not include the materials and reagentsfor measuring the expression of a protein or RNA product of a biomarkerof the invention that has been suggested by the prior art to beassociated with schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder. In otherembodiments, such kits include the materials and reagents for measuringthe expression of a protein or RNA product of a biomarker of theinvention that has been suggested by the prior art to be associated withschizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder and at least 1, at least 2, atleast 3, at least 4, at least 5, at least 6, at least 7, or more genesother than the biomarkers of the invention.

The invention provides kits useful for monitoring the efficacy of one ormore therapies that a subject is undergoing based upon the expression ofa protein or RNA product of at least 1, at least 2, at least 3, at least4, at least 5, at least 6, at least 7, or all or any combination of thebiomarkers of the invention in a sample. In certain embodiments, suchkits do not include the materials and reagents for measuring theexpression of a protein or RNA product of a biomarker of the inventionthat has been suggested by the prior art to be associated withschizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder. In other embodiments, such kitsinclude the materials and reagents for measuring the expression of aprotein or RNA product of a biomarker of the invention that has beensuggested by the prior art to be associated with schizophrenia and/orbipolar disorder and at least 1, at least 2, at least 3, at least 4, atleast 5, at least 6, at least 7, or more genes other than the biomarkersof the invention.

The invention provides kits using for determining whether a subject willbe responsive to a therapy based upon the expression of a protein or RNAproduct of at least 1, at least 2, at least 3, at least 4, at least 5,at least 6, at least 7, or all or any combination of the biomarkers ofthe invention in a sample. In certain embodiments, such kits do notinclude the materials and reagents for measuring the expression of aprotein or RNA product of a biomarker of the invention that has beensuggested by the prior art to be associated with schizophrenia and/orbipolar disorder. In other embodiments, such kits include the materialsand reagents for measuring the expression of a protein or RNA product ofa biomarker of the invention that has been suggested by the prior art tobe associated with schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder and at least 1,at least 2, at least 3, at least 4, at least 5, at least 6, at least 7,or more genes other than the biomarkers of the invention.

The invention provides kits for measuring the expression of a RNAproduct of at least 1, at least 2, at least 3, at least 4, at least 5,at least 6, at least 7, or all or any combination of the biomarkers ofthe invention in a sample. In a specific embodiment, such kits comprisematerials and reagents that are necessary for measuring the expressionof a RNA product of a biomarker of the invention. For example, amicroarray or RT-PCR kit may be produced for schizophrenia and/orbipolar disorder and contain only those reagents and materials necessaryfor measuring the levels of RNA products of at least 1, at least 2, atleast 3, at least 4, at least 5, at least 6, at least 7, or all or anycombination of the biomarkers of the invention. Alternatively, in someembodiments, the kits can comprise materials and reagents that are notlimited to those required to measure the levels of RNA products of 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or all or any combination of the biomarkers of theinvention. For example, a microarray kit may contain reagents andmaterials necessary for measuring the levels of RNA products of notnecessarily associated with or indicative of schizophrenia and/orbipolar disorder, in addition to reagents and materials necessary formeasuring the levels of the RNA products of at least 1, at least 2, atleast 3, at least 4, at least 5, at least 6, at least 7, or all or anycombination of the biomarkers of the invention. In a specificembodiment, a microarray or RT-PCR kit contains reagents and materialsnecessary for measuring the levels of RNA products of at least 1, atleast 2, at least 3, at least 4, at least 5, at least 6, at least 7, orall or any combination of the biomarkers of the invention, and 1, 2, 3,4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85,90, 95, 100, 125, 150, 175, 200, 225, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, or moregenes other than the biomarkers of the invention, or 1-10, 1-100, 1-150,1-200, 1-300, 1-400, 1-500, 1-1000, 25-100, 25-200, 25-300, 25-400,25-500, 25-1000, 100-150, 100-200, 100-300, 100-400, 100-500, 100-1000,500-1000 other genes than the biomarkers of the invention.

For nucleic acid micoarray kits, the kits generally comprise probesattached to a support surface. The probes may be labeled with adetectable label. In a specific embodiment, the probes are specific foran exon(s), an intron(s), an exon junction(s), or an exon-intronjunction(s)), of RNA products of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, all or anycombination of the biomarkers of the invention. The microarray kits maycomprise instructions for performing the assay and methods forinterpreting and analyzing the data resulting from the performance ofthe assay. In a specific embodiment, the kits comprise instructions fordiagnosing schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder. The kits may alsocomprise hybridization reagents and/or reagents necessary for detectinga signal produced when a probe hybridizes to a target nucleic acidsequence. Generally, the materials and reagents for the microarray kitsare in one or more containers. Each component of the kit is generally inits own a suitable container.

For RT-PCR kits, the kits generally comprise pre-selected primersspecific for particular RNA products (e.g., an exon(s), an intron(s), anexon junction(s), and an exon-intron junction(s)) of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7, or all or any combination of the biomarkers of the invention. TheRT-PCR kits may also comprise enzymes suitable for reverse transcribingand/or amplifying nucleic acids (e.g., polymerases such as Taq), anddeoxynucleotides and buffers needed for the reaction mixture for reversetranscription and amplification. The RT-PCR kits may also compriseprobes specific for RNA products of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or all or anycombination of the biomarkers of the invention. The probes may or maynot be labeled with a detectable label (e.g., a fluorescent label). Eachcomponent of the RT-PCR kit is generally in its own suitable container.Thus, these kits generally comprise distinct containers suitable foreach individual reagent, enzyme, primer and probe. Further, the RT-PCRkits may comprise instructions for performing the assay and methods forinterpreting and analyzing the data resulting from the performance ofthe assay. In a specific embodiment, the kits contain instructions fordiagnosing schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder.

In a specific embodiment, the kit is a real-time RT-PCR kit. Such a kitmay comprise a 96 well plate and reagents and materials necessary forSYBR Green detection. The kit may comprise reagents and materials sothat beta-actin can be used to normalize the results. The kit may alsocomprise controls such as water, phospate buffered saline, and phage MS2RNA. Further, the kit may comprise instructions for performing the assayand methods for interpreting and analyzing the date resulting from theperformance of the assay. In a specific embodiment, the instructionsstate that the level of a RNA product of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, all or anycombination of the biomarkers of the invention should be examined at twoconcentrations that differ by, e.g., 5 fold to 10-fold.

For antibody based kits, the kit can comprise, for example: (1) a firstantibody (which may or may not be attached to a support) which binds toprotein of interest (e.g., a protein product of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, allor any combination of the biomarkers of the invention); and, optionally,(2) a second, different antibody which binds to either the protein, orthe first antibody and is conjugated to a detectable label (e.g., afluorescent label, radioactive isotope or enzyme). The antibody-basedkits may also comprise beads for conducting an immunoprecipitation. Eachcomponent of the antibody-based kits is generally in its own suitablecontainer. Thus, these kits generally comprise distinct containerssuitable for each antibody. Further, the antibody-based kits maycomprise instructions for performing the assay and methods forinterpreting and analyzing the data resulting from the performance ofthe assay. In a specific embodiment, the kits contain instructions fordiagnosing schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder.

5.19 SNPs

A Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) is a single nucleotide variationat a specific location in the genome of different individuals. SNPs arefound in both coding and non-coding regions of genomic DNA. In spite ofthe paucity of scorable phenotypes, SNPs are found in large numbersthroughout the human genome (Cooper et al., Hum Genet. 69:201-205,1985). SNPs are stable genetic variations frequently found in genes, andcontribute to the wide range of phenotypic variations found inorganisms. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) can be of predictivevalue in identifying many genetic diseases, as well as phenotypiccharacteristics. It is known for example that certain SNPs result indisease-causing mutations such as the SNP correlated with heritablebreast cancer (Cannon-Albright and Skolnick, Semin Oncol 23:1-5, 1996).

A SNP may be identified in the DNA of an organism by a number of methodswell known to those of skill in the art, including but not limited toidentifying the SNP by DNA sequencing, by amplifying a PCR product andsequencing the PCR product, by Oligonucleotide Ligation Assay (OLA), byDoublecode OLA, by Single Base Extension Assay, by allele specificprimer extension, or by mismatch hybridization.

The instant invention offers a more focused and efficient method ofscreening SNPs to identify those SNPs which are specifically associatedwith schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder by having identified aselection of genes which are differentially expressed in blood fromindividuals having schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder. In one aspectof the invention, a selection of SNPs to be screened are those SNPsfound in the genes listed in Tables 1 and 3. In another aspect of theinvention, the SNPs to be screened are those SNPs listed in FIG. 3. Inyet another aspect of the invention, novel SNPs can be identified in thedisease-associated biomarkers using those methods listed above.

In particular, this invention focuses on methods for identifying thoseSNPs which are associated with schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder byscreening only those SNPs in the biomarkers identified herein. ThoseSNPs which are identified using the methods disclosed herein will beconvenient diagnostic markers. One preferred aspect of identifyingschizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder associated SNPs encompassesisolating DNA from a sample such as blood from a population ofindividuals, some of said individuals having been diagnosed withschizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder, some of those individuals nothaving schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder, and screening the genesfor the SNPs identified in FIG. 3 to identify one or more SNPs asdiagnostic markers of schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder. Morespecifically a SNP is considered to be a schizophrenia and/or bipolardisorder associated snp if those individuals having schizophrenia and/orbipolar disorder have a different polymorphism at the SNP locus thanthose individuals not having schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder.Further, a particular SNP is considered to be diagnostic forschizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder if a particular polymorphism ofthe snp is found to present at a statistically significant higherfrequency in those individuals having schizophrenia and/or bipolardisorder than in those individuals not having schizophrenia and/orbipolar disorder. Indices of statistical significance include p<0.05,p<0.001, p<0.01, and p<0.10. However this invention is not limited toidentifying schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder diagnostic SNPs fromFIG. 3, and includes methods of identifying new SNPs in theschizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder biomarker genes listed in Tables 1and 2, and methods of determining their diagnostic value with respect toschizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder.

As would be understood, a preferred sample is blood, but these methodsencompass any samples from which DNA can be obtained includingepithelial cells, buccal cells, hair, saliva, tissue cells and the like.There are a variety of available methods for obtaining and storingtissue and/or blood samples. These alternatives allow tissue and bloodsamples to be stored and transported in a form suitable for the recoveryof genomic DNA from the samples for genotype analysis. DNA samples canbe collected and stored on a variety of solid mediums, includingWhatmann paper, Guthrie cards, tubes, swabs, filter paper, slides, orother containers. When whole blood is collected on filter paper, forexample, it can be dried and stored at room temperature.

In another aspect of the invention, schizophrenia and/or bipolardisorder associated SNPs can be identified from RNA transcripts of theschizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder biomarker genes, listed in Tables1, instead of from genomic DNA. In one embodiment, RNA is isolated froma sample such as blood, from individuals with and without the givendisease or disorder, and transcripts encoded by these schizophreniaand/or bipolar disorder biomarker genes are reversed transcribed intocDNA. The cDNA is amplified and analyzed to determine the presence ofSNPs in the schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder biomarker genes. Aschizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder associated snp, can be identifiedby then comparing the distribution of each of the SNPs identified in theschizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder associated biomarker gene(s)differentially expressed in those individuals having schizophreniaand/or bipolar disorder, with those of individuals who do not haveschizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder. In a further variation of thisembodiment, instead analyzing cDNA for the presence of SNPs, the RNAtranscripts of the disease specific biomarker genes, or their amplifiedproducts, are analyzed for the presence of SNPs.

Analysis of genomic DNA comprising the schizophrenia and/or bipolardisorder biomarker genes has the potential to identify SNPs in thecoding region as well as in regulatory regions, the latter which maycontribute to the change in expression levels of the gene. Analysis ofcDNA encoded SNPs has the potential to identify only SNPs in the codingregion of the schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder biomarker genes,which may be instrumental in deciphering protein based mechanisms ofschizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder. Methods of analyzing cDNA encodedSNPs can be carried out by analyzing the cDNA generated in the rt-PCRreactions described herein that are used to identify the level of thebiomarker in samples from patients and non patients.

A schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder associated SNP may be identifiedin the DNA of the schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder biomarker genesby a number of methods well known to those of skill in the art, (see forexample U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,221,592 and 5,679,524), including but notlimited to identifying the SNP by PCR or DNA amplification,Oligonucleotide Ligation Assay (OLA) (Landegren et al., Science241:1077, 1988), Doublecode OLA, mismatch hybridization, massspectrometry, Single Base Extension Assay, (U.S. Pat. No. 6,638,722),RFLP detection based on allele-specific restriction-endonucleasecleavage (Kan and Dozy, Lancet ii:910-912, 1978), hybridization withallele-specific oligonucleotide probes (Wallace et al., Nucl Acids Res6:3543-3557, 1978), including immobilized oligonucleotides (Saiki etal., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 86:6230-6234, 1989) or oligonucleotidearrays (Maskos and Southern, Nucl Acids Res 21:2269-2270, 1993),allele-specific PCR (Newton et al., Nucl Acids Res 17:2503-16, 1989),mismatch-repair detection (MRD) (Faham and Cox, Genome Res 5:474-482,1995), binding of MutS protein (Wagner et al., Nucl Acids Res23:3944-3948, 1995), single-strand-conformation-polymorphism detection(Orita et al., Genomics 5:874-879, 1983), RNAase cleavage at mismatchedbase-pairs (Myers et al., Science 230:1242, 1985), chemical (Cotton etal., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 85:4397-4401, 1988) or enzymatic (Youil etal., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 92:87-91, 1995) cleavage of heteroduplexDNA, methods based on allele specific primer extension (Syvanen et al.,Genomics 8:684-692, 1990), genetic bit analysis (GBA) (Nikiforov et al.,Nucl Acids Res 22:4167-4175, 1994), and radioactive and/or fluorescentDNA sequencing using standard procedures well known in the art.

The instant methods of screening a subset of SNPs to identifyschizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder associated smps in schizophreniaand/or bipolar disorder biomarker genes also encompass non-PCR methodsof DNA. These methods include ligase chain reaction (“LCR”), disclosedin European Patent Application No. 320,308, Qbeta Replicase, describedin PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US87/00880, isothermal amplificationmethods, Walker et al. (Nucleic Acids Res 20(7):1691-6, 1992), StrandDisplacement Amplification (SDA) described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,712,124,5,648,211 and 5,455,166, Cyclic Probe Reaction, Transcription-BasedAmplification, including nucleic acid sequence based amplification(NASBA) and 3SR, Kwoh et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 86:1173-77, 1989;PCT Patent Application WO 88/10315 et al., 1989, other amplificationmethods, as described in British Patent Application No. GB 2,202,328,and in PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US89/01025, Davey et al., EuropeanPatent Application No. 329,822, Miller et al., PCT Patent Application WO89/06700, “race and “one-sided PCR TM.” described in Frohman, In: PCRProtocols: A Guide To Methods And Applications, Academic Press, N.Y.,1990, methods based on ligation of two (or more) oligonucleotides in thepresence of nucleic acid having the sequence of the resulting“di-oligonucleotide, described in Wu et al., Genomics 4:560-569, 1989.

While it is generally contemplated that the polymerase employed will bethermostable, non-thermostable polymerases may also be employed in thecontext of the present disclosure. Exemplary polymerases and nucleicacid modifying enzymes that may be used in the context of the disclosureinclude the thermostable DNA Polymerases of OmniBase Sequencing Enzyme,Pfu DNA Polymerase, Taq DNA Polymerase, Taq DNA Polymerase, SequencingGrade, TaqBead Hot Start Polymerase, AmpliTaq Gold, Vent DNA Polymerase,Tub DNA Polymerase, TaqPlus DNA Polymerase, Tfl DNA Polymerase, Tli DNAPolymerase, Tth DNA Polymerase; the DNA Polymerases of DNA Polymerase I,Klenow Fragment, Exonuclease Minus, DNA Polymerase I, DNA Polymerase ILarge (Klenow) Fragment, Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase, T7 DNAPolymerase, T4 DNA Polymerase; the Reverse trancriptases of AMV ReverseTranscriptase and M-MLV Reverse Transcriptase; T4 DNA ligase and T4polynucleotide kinase.

Recognition moieties incorporated into primers, incorporated into theamplified product during amplification, or attached to probes are usefulin the identification of the amplified molecules. A number of differentlabels may be used for this purpose such as, for example: fluorophores,chromophores, radio-isotopes, enzymatic tags, antibodies,chemiluminescence, electroluminescence, affinity labels, etc. One ofskill in the art will recognize that these and other fluorophores notmentioned herein can also be used with success in this disclosure.Examples of affinity labels include but are not limited to thefollowing: an antibody, an antibody fragment, a receptor protein, ahormone, biotin, DNP, or any polypeptide/protein molecule that binds toan affinity label and may be used for separation of the amplified gene.Examples of enzyme tags include enzymes such as urease, alkalinephosphatase, or peroxidase. Additionally, colorimetric indicatorsubstrates can be employed to provide a detection means visible to thehuman eye or spectrophotometrically, to identify specific hybridizationwith complementary nucleic acid-containing samples. All these examplesare generally known in the art and the skilled artisan will recognizethat the present disclosure is not limited to the examples describedabove. The following fluorophores are specifically contemplated to beuseful in the present disclosure: Alexa 350, Alexa 430, AMCA, BODIPY630/650, BODIPY 650/665, BODIPY-FL, BODIPY-R6G, BODIPY-TMR, BODIPY-TRX,Cascade Blue, Cy2, Cy3, Cy5, 6-FAM, Fluorescein, HEX, 6-JOE, OregonGreen 488, Oregon Green 500, Oregon Green 514, Pacific Blue, REG,Rhodamine Green, Rhodamine Red, ROX, TAMRA, TET, Tetramethylrhodamine,and Texas Red.

In the context of the present disclosure, it is specificallycontemplated that the DNA amplification products of the disclosedmethods may be analyzed using DNA chips or microarrays in order todetect SNPs. The amplified DNA products may then be passed over a DNAchip or microarray encompassing oligonucleotide or polynucleotideprobes. The ability or inability of the amplified DNA to hybridize tothe microarray or DNA chip will facilitate the characterization of theSNPs present in the biomarker genes encoding the transcripts present inthe sample.

The examples below are non-limiting and are merely representative ofvarious aspects and features of the present invention.

5.19 EXAMPLES Example 1

RNA Isolation from Lysed Blood

10 ml whole blood is obtained in a Vacutainer and spun at 2,000 rpm for5 min at 4° C. and the plasma layer removed. Lysis Buffer is added toblood sample in a ratio of 3 parts Lysis Buffer to 1 part blood (LysisBuffer (IL) 0.6 g EDTA; 1.0 g KHCO₂, 8.2 g NH₄Cl adjusted to pH 7.4(using NaOH)). Sample is mixed and placed on ice for 5-10 minutes untiltransparent. Lysed sample is centrifuged at 1000 rpm for 10 minutes at4° C., and supernatant is aspirated. Pellet is resuspended in 5 ml LysisBuffer, and centrifuged again at 1000 rpm for 10 minutes at 4° C.Pelleted cells are homogenized using TRIzol® (GIBCO/BRL) in a ratio ofapproximately 6 ml of TRIzol® for every 10 ml of the original bloodsample and vortexed well. Samples are left for 5 minutes at roomtemperature. RNA is extracted using 1.2 ml of chloroform per 1 ml ofTRIzol®. Sample is centrifuged at 12,000×g for 5 minutes at 4° C. andupper layer is collected. To upper layer, isopropanol is added in ratioof 0.5 ml per 1 ml of TRIzol®. Sample is left overnight at −20° C. orfor one hour at −20° C. RNA is pelleted in accordance with knownmethods, RNA pellet air dried, and pellet resuspended in DEPC treatedddH₂O. RNA samples can also be stored in 75% ethanol where the samplesare stable at room temperature for transportation.

Example 2

From Whole Blood

100 ul whole blood is obtained in a microcentrifuge tube and spun at2,000 rpm (800 g) for 5 min at 4° C. and the supernatant removed.Pelleted cells are homogenized using TRIzol (GIBCO/BRL) in a ratio ofapproximately 6 μl of TRIzol for every 10 μl of the original bloodsample and vortexed well. Samples are left for 5 minutes at roomtemperature. RNA is extracted using 12 μL of chloroform per 10 μl ofTRIzol. Sample is centrifuged at 12,000×g for 5 minutes at 4° C. andupper layer is collected. To upper layer, isopropanol is added in ratioof 5 μl per 10 μl of TRIzol. Sample is left overnight at −20° C. or forone hour at −20° C. RNA is pelleted in accordance with known methods,RNA pellet air dried, and pellet resuspended in DEPC treated ddH2O. RNAsamples can also be stored in 75% ethanol where the samples are stableat room temperature for transportation.

From Centrifuged Lysed Blood

10 ml whole blood is obtained in a Vacutainer and spun at 2,000 rpm (800g) for 5 min at 4° C. and the plasma layer removed. Lysis Buffer isadded to blood sample in a ratio of 3 parts Lysis Buffer to 1 part blood(Lysis Buffer (IL) 0.6 g EDTA; 1.0 g KHCO2, 8.2 g NH4Cl adjusted to pH7.4 (using NaOH)). Sample is mixed and placed on ice for 5-10 minutesuntil transparent. Lysed sample is centrifuged at 1000 rpm for 10minutes at 4° C., and supernatant is aspirated. Pellet is resuspended in5 ml Lysis Buffer, and centrifuged again at 1000 rpm for 10 minutes at4° C. Pelleted cells are homogenized using TRIzol (GIBCO/BRL) in a ratioof approximately 6 ml of TRIzol for every 10 ml of the original bloodsample and vortexed well. Samples are left for 5 minutes at roomtemperature. RNA is extracted using 1.2 ml of chloroform per 1 ml ofTRIzol. Sample is centrifuged at 12,000×g for 5 minutes at 4° C. andupper layer is collected. To upper layer, isopropanol is added in ratioof 0.5 ml per 1 ml of TRIzol. Sample is left overnight at −20° C. or forone hour at −20° C. RNA is pelleted in accordance with known methods,RNA pellet air dried, and pellet resuspended in DEPC treated ddH2O. RNAsamples can also be stored in 75% ethanol where the samples are stableat room temperature for transportation.

From Serum Free Whole Blood

10 ml whole blood is obtained in a Vacutainer and spun at 2,000 rpm (800g) for 5 min at 4° C. and the plasma layer removed. Pelleted cells arehomogenized using TRIzol (GIBCO/BRL) in a ratio of approximately 6 ml ofTRIzol for every 10 ml of the original blood sample and vortexed well.Samples are left for 5 minutes at room temperature. RNA is extractedusing 1.2 ml of chloroform per 1 ml of TRIzol. Sample is centrifuged at12,000×g for 5 minutes at 4° C. and upper layer is collected. To upperlayer, isopropanol is added in ratio of 0.5 ml per 1 ml of TRIzol.Sample is left overnight at −20° C. or for one hour at −20° C. RNA ispelleted in accordance with known methods, RNA pellet air dried, andpellet resuspended in DEPC treated ddH2O. RNA samples can also be storedin 75% ethanol where the samples are stable at room temperature fortransportation.

Example 3

Target Nucleic Acid Preparation and Hybridization

Preparation of Fluorescent DNA Probe from mRNA

Fluorescently labeled target nucleic acid samples of RNA are preparedfor analysis with an array of the invention.

1 μg Oligo-dT primers are annealed to 10 ug of total RNA isolated fromblood from patient diagnosed with schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorderor suspected of having schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder in a totalvolume of 10 ul, by heating to 70° C. for 10 min, and cooled on ice. ThemRNA is reverse transcribed by incubating the sample at 42° C. for 40min in a 25 μl volume containing a final concentration of 50 mM Tris-HCl(pH 8.3), 75 mM KCl, 3 mM MgCl2, 25 mM DTT, 25 mM unlabeled dNTPs, 400units of Superscript II (200 U/uL, Gibco BRL), and 15 mM of Cy3 or Cy5(Amersham). The reaction is stopped by the addition of 2.5 μl of 55500mM EDTA and 5 μl of 1M NaOH, and incubation at 65° C. for 10 min. Thereaction mixture is neutralized by addition of 12.5 μl of 1M Tris HCl(pH7.6).

The labeled target nucleic acid sample is purified by centrifugation ina Centricon-30 micro-concentrator (Amicon). If two different targetnucleic acid samples (e.g., two samples derived from different patients)are being analyzed and compared by hybridization to the same array, eachtarget nucleic acid sample is labeled with a different fluorescent label(e.g., Cy3 and Cy5) and separately concentrated. The separatelyconcentrated target nucleic acid samples (Cy3 and Cy5 labeled) arecombined into a fresh centricon, washed with 500 μl TE, and concentratedagain to a volume of less than 7 μl. 1 μL of 10 μg/μl polyA RNA (Sigma,#P9403) and 1 μl of 10 μg/ul tRNA (Gibco-BRL, #15401-011) is added andthe volume is adjusted to 9.5 μl with distilled water. For final targetnucleic acid preparation 2.1 μl 20×SSC (1.5M NaCl, 150 mM NaCltrate(pH8.0)) and 0.35 μl 10% SDS is added.

Hybridization

Labeled nucleic acid is denatured by heating for 2 min at 100° C., andincubated at 37° C. for 20-30 min before being placed on a nucleic acidarray under a 22 mm×22 mm glass cover slip. Hybridization is carried outat 65° C. for 14 to 18 hours in a custom slide chamber with humiditymaintained by a small reservoir of 3×SSC. The array is washed bysubmersion and agitation for 2-5 min in 2×SSC with 0.1% SDS, followed by1×SSC, and 0.1×SSC. Finally, the array is dried by centrifugation for 2min in a slide rack in a Beckman GS-6 tabletop centrifuge in Micropluscarriers at 650 RPM for 2 min.

Example 4

Real Time RT PCR

Real time RT PCR was performed on the genes as disclosed in Table 1using the SYBR® Green Kit from Qiagen (Product Number 204143). Theexperimental results of these genes are shown in Example 6 below.

Either a one step (reverse transcription and PCR combined) or a two step(reverse transcription first and then subsequent PCR) can be used. Inthe case of the two step protocol, reverse transcription was firstperformed using the High-Capacity cDNA Archive Kit from AppliedBiosystems (Product number 4322171) and following the protocol utilizedtherein.

More specifically purified RNA as described previously herein wasincubated with Reverse Transcriptase buffer, dNTPs, Random primers andReverse transcriptase and incubated for 25° C. for 10 minutes andsubsequently for 37° C. for two hours and the resulting mixture utilizedas the starting product for quantitative PCR.

cDNA resulting from reverse transcription was incubated with theQuantiTect SYBR® Green PCR Master Mix as provided and no adjustmentswere made for magnesium concentration. Uracil-N-Glycosylase was notadded. 5 μM of both forward primer and reverse primer specific to thegenes of the invention were added and the reaction was incubated andmonitored in accordance with the standard protocol utilizing the ABIPRISM 7700/ABI GeneAmp 5700/iCycler/DNA Engine Opticon.

TABLE 8 Primers used in the performance  of Real Time RT PCR Forward Primer Reverse  Primer Gene Primer Position Primer Position ADSSCTGCGTTGGCACT 1361 GACTTCTTGGTTT 1476 TACCAAGTT GCTGGGA SEQ ID NO 1SEQ ID NO 2 APOBE CTCAGATACCTGA 619 CGCTCCACCTCAT 719 C3B TGGATCCAGACACAGCACAAGT A SEQ ID NO 4 SEQ ID NO 3 ATM TGTGGATGGCATG 8931 GAAGGACCTCTAC9046 GGCATTA AATGGTTAACAGA SEQ ID NO 5 G SEQ ID NO 6 CLC GCCAGATAAGTAC364 ATCTCTCCACACT 463 CAGGTAATGG TGCACCA SEQ ID NO 7 SEQ ID NO 8 CTBP1ATCACAGGCCGGA 1150 ATTGAGCTCAGGG 1174 TCCCAGA TGCACGA SEQ ID NO 9SEQ ID NO 10 CXCL1 ACCGAAGTCATAG 293 GTTGGATTTGTCA 400 CCACACT CTGTTCAGCSEQ ID NO 11 SEQ ID NO 12 DATF1 AGCAGAAGTCTAG 1575 GCCTCTATCACAG 1677CGAAGACCAAG GCTGGAA SEQ ID NO 13 SEQ ID NO 14 S100A9 TTTGGGACAGAGT 25CCAGCTTCACAGA 124 GCAAGACGA GTATTGGTGGA SEQ ID NO 15 SEQ ID NO 16

Example 5

Taqman®

Quantitative real time RT PCR can also be performed using theQuantiTect™ Probe RT-PCR system from Qiagen (Product Number 204343) inconjunction with a TaqMan® dual labelled probe and primers correspondingto the gene of interest. The TaqMan® probe and primers can be orderedfrom Applied Biosystems Assays-On-Demand™.

The dual labelled probe contains both a fluorophore and a quenchermolecule. The proximity of the fluorescent reporter with the quencherprevents the reporter from fluorescing, but during the PCR extensionstep, the 5′-3′ exonuclease activity of the Taq DNA polymerase releasesthe fluorophore which allows it to fluoresce. As such, the amount offluorescence correlates with the amount of PCR product generated.

Example 6

Statistical Analysis of Real Time PCR Results

Real Time PCR was performed to analyze potential biomarkers from bloodsamples isolated from individuals categorized as normal (not havingschizophrenia or bipolar disorder), having schizophrenia or havingbipolar disorder. T-tests and or Mann Whitney tests were utilized on ageand sex matched sample sets of approximately 16-25 in size. FIG. 1 showsanalysis for the eight biomarkers on total RNA isolated from centrifugedlysed blood for each biomarkers ability to differentiate as between: (a)schizophrenia and non-schizophrenia (b) bipolar disorder and non-bipolardisorder and (c) schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Biomarkers whichdemonstrated an ability to differentiate with a p value of less than0.05 are shaded.

Example 7

Identification of Combinations of Biomarkers Using Logistic Regression

First strand cDNA synthesis was performed on a Perkin-Elmer DNA ThermalCycler using the ABI High Capacity cDNA Archive Kit (Cat #4322171).Quantitation of specific cDNA was achieved with the Qiagen QuantitectSYBR® Green PCR Kit (Cat #204143) with confirmation of desired productusing agarose gel. In each sample, the expression level of a target genewas quantified by its Ct-value, the concentration-dependent PCR cyclenumber at which the amplicon becomes distinguishable over background.Each Ct-value was related to an internal standard by subtracting the Ctvalue of beta-actin as a housekeeping gene. To obtain increaseddiscriminating ability, logistic regression was used to generate linearcombinations of Δ Ct for (a) schizophrenia v. control (b) bipolardisorder v. control and (c) schizophrenia v. bipolar disorder. Thediagnostic accuracy of the combinations (ie the probably of true vs.false positive and true v. false negative calls) was quantitativelyevaluated by ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristic) curve analysisusing MedCalc®, (MedCalc; Mariakerke, Belgium); XLSTAT® (AddinSoft;Paris, France) and our own software. ROC analysis of the classifiersgenerated using logistic regression were analyzed. Examples ofclassifiers for (a) schizophrenia v. control with an ROC of >0.9 areshown in FIG. 5. Examples of classifiers for (b) bipolar disorder v.control with an ROC of >0.9 are shown in FIG. 6. Examples of classifiersfor (c) bipolar disorder v. schizophrenia with an ROC of >0.9 are shownin FIG. 7.

Example 8

Diagnosis of Individual Utilizing Classifiers of the Invention

Classifiers of the invention can be generated as described in Example 8above or using other mathematical models as described herein. Forexample one of the classifiers identified for differentiating betweenschizophrenia and non-schizophrenia as shown in FIG. 5 is written asfollows:X=−27.66-1.2*APOBEC3B+4.69*ADSS−4.04*ATM−1.66*CLC+4.68*CTBP1−1.58*CXCL1+3.18*DATF1−2.7*S100A9(ROC0.96)

In order to utilize the classifier for diagnosis of schizophrenia, theΔCt of an test individual for the following genes ABOBEC3B, ADSS, ATM,CLC, CTBP1 CXCL1, DATF1 and S100A9 are measured, for example, asoutlined in Example 8 and substituted into the equation above.

The test individual is considered to diagnose as a control (not havingschizophrenia) when x<0, Similarly the test individual is considered todiagnose as having schizophrenia when x>0. As would be understood by aperson skilled in the art, in the equationX=+27.66+1.2*APOBEC3B−4.69*ADSS+4.04*ATM+1.66*CLC−4.68*CTBP1+1.58*CXCL1−3.18*DATF1+2.7*S100A9atest individual is diagnosed as control when x>0 and diagnosed as havingschizophrenia when x<0.

One of the classifiers identified for differentiating between bipolardisorder and non-bipolar disorder as shown in FIG. 6 is written asfollows:X=45.84−1.13*APOBEC3B−5.01*ADSS+0.75*CLC+1.07*CXCL1−5.13*S100A9(ROC0.948)

One of the classifiers identified for differentiating between bipolardisorder and schizophrenia as shown in FIG. 7 is written as follows:X=0.2+6.13*ADSS−5.58*ATM−2.69*CXCL1+3.87*DATF1+2.48*S100A9(ROC 0.972)

Example 9

Diagnosis of Individuals Utilizing Biomarker Combinations of theInvention

This example demonstrates the use of the biomarkers combinations of theinvention to diagnose schizophrenia. Measurement of the RNA and/orprotein products of the five biomarkers identified, for example in theclassifier of Example 10 ABOBEC3, ATM, CLC, CTBP1 and DATF1 can be usedto diagnose an individual as having schizophrenia or not havingschizophrenia. Level of expression of the RNA and/or Protein products ofthe combination of biomarkers identified can be measured for apopulation of individuals having schizophrenia and a population ofindividuals not having schizophrenia and a new classifier generated toallow the diagnosis of an unknown individual as having or not havingschizophrenia.

Example 10

Analysis of Gene Expression Profiles of Blood Samples from IndividualsHaving Schizophrenia as Compared with Gene Expression Profiles fromNormal Individuals Using the Biomarkers of Table 1

This example demonstrates the use of the claimed invention to diagnoseschizophrenia by detecting differential gene expression in blood samplestaken from patients with schizophrenia as compared to blood samplestaken from healthy patients.

Blood samples are taken from patients who are clinically diagnosed withschizophrenia as defined herein. Gene expression profiles are thenanalyzed and compared to profiles from patients unaffected byschizophrenia. In each case, the diagnosis of schizophrenia iscorroborated by a skilled Board certified physician.

Total mRNA from a drop of blood is taken from each patient is firstisolated using TRIzol® reagent (GIBCO) and fluorescently labeled probesfor each blood sample are then generated, denatured and hybridized to amicroarray containing full length cDNA sequences for each of the genesas described in Table 1. Detection of specific hybridization to thearray is then measured by scanning with a GMS Scanner 418 and processingof the experimental data with Scanalyzer software (Michael Eisen,Stanford University), followed by GeneSpring software (Silicon Genetics,CA) analysis. Differential expression of the 8 genes in blood samplesfrom patients with schizophrenia as compared to non-schizophrenicpatients is determined by statistical analysis using the t-test (GlantzSA. Primer of Biostatistics. 5th ed. N.Y., USA: McGraw-Hill MedicalPublishing Division, 2002).

Example 11

Analysis of Gene Expression Profiles of Blood Samples from IndividualsHaving Schizophrenia as Compared with Gene Expression Profiles fromHealthy Individuals Using the 5′ Regions of the Genes Described in Table1

This example demonstrates the use of the claimed invention to diagnoseschizophrenia by detecting differential gene expression in blood samplestaken from patients with schizophrenia as compared to blood samplestaken from healthy patients.

Blood samples are taken from patients who are clinically diagnosed withschizophrenia as defined herein. Gene expression profiles are thenanalyzed and compared to profiles from patients unaffected byschizophrenia. In each case, the diagnosis of schizophrenia iscorroborated by a skilled Board certified physician.

Total mRNA from a drop of blood taken from each patient is firstisolated using TRIzol® reagent (GIBCO) and fluorescently labeled probesfor each blood sample are then generated, denatured and hybridized to amicroarray containing DNA sequences of 25 nucleotides in lengthcorresponding to the 5′ region of each of the genes as described inTable 1. Detection of specific hybridization to the array is thenmeasured by scanning with a GMS Scanner 418 and processing of theexperimental data with Scanalyzer software (Michael Eisen, StanfordUniversity), followed by GeneSpring software (Silicon Genetics, CA)analysis. Differential expression of the genes in blood samples frompatients with schizophrenia as compared to healthy patients isdetermined by statistical analysis using the t test (Glantz SA. Primerof Biostatistics. 5th ed. New York, USA: McGraw-Hill Medical PublishingDivision, 2002). Differential expression of each of the genes describedin Table 1 is diagnostic for schizophrenia.

Example 12

Analysis of Gene Expression Profiles of Blood Samples from IndividualsHaving Schizophrenia as Compared with Gene Expression Profiles from NonSchizophrenic Individuals Using the 3′ Regions of the Genes Described inTable 1

This example demonstrates the use of the claimed invention to diagnoseschizophrenia by detecting differential gene expression in blood samplestaken from patients with schizophrenia as compared to blood samplestaken from healthy patients.

Blood samples are taken from patients who were clinically diagnosed withschizophrenia as defined herein. Gene expression profiles are thenanalyzed and compared to profiles from patients unaffected byschizophrenia. In each case, the diagnosis of schizophrenia iscorroborated by a skilled Board certified physician.

Total mRNA from a drop of blood taken from each patient is firstisolated using TRIzol® reagent (GIBCO) and fluorescently labeled probesfor each blood sample are then generated, denatured and hybridized to amicroarray containing DNA sequences of 50 nucleotides in lengthcorresponding to the 3′ region of each of the mRNA as described inTable 1. Detection of specific hybridization to the array is thenmeasured by scanning with a GMS Scanner 418 and processing of theexperimental data with Scanalyzer software (Michael Eisen, StanfordUniversity), followed by GeneSpring software (Silicon Genetics, CA)analysis. Differential expression of the enes in blood samples frompatients with schizophrenia as compared to healthy patients isdetermined by statistical analysis using the t-test (Glantz SA. Primerof Biostatistics. 5th ed. New York, USA: McGraw-Hill Medical PublishingDivision, 2002). Differential expression of each of the mRNA describedin Table 1 is diagnostic for schizophrenia.

Example 13

Analysis of Gene Expression Profiles of Blood Samples from IndividualsHaving Schizophrenia as Compared with Gene Expression Profiles fromHealthy Individuals Using the Internal Coding Regions Of the GenesDescribed in Table 1

This example demonstrates the use of the claimed invention to diagnoseschizophrenia by detecting differential gene expression in blood samplestaken from patients with schizophrenia as compared to blood samplestaken from healthy patients.

Blood samples are taken from patients who are clinically diagnosed withschizophrenia as defined herein. Gene expression profiles are thenanalyzed and compared to profiles from patients unaffected byschizophrenia. In each case, the diagnosis of schizophrenia iscorroborated by a skilled Board certified physician.

Total mRNA from a drop of blood taken from each patient wis as firstisolated using TRIzol® reagent (GIBCO) and fluorescently labeled probesfor each blood sample are then generated, denatured and hybridized to amicroarray containing DNA sequences of 70 nucleotides in lengthcorresponding to the internal coding region of each of the genes asdescribed in Table 1. Detection of specific hybridization to the arrayis then measured by scanning with a GMS Scanner 418 and processing ofthe experimental data with Scanalyzer software (Michael Eisen, StanfordUniversity), followed by GeneSpring software (Silicon Genetics, CA)analysis. Differential expression of the genes in blood samples frompatients with schizophrenia as compared to healthy patients is thendetermined by statistical analysis using the t-test (Glantz SA. Primerof Biostatistics. 5th ed. New York, USA: McGraw-Hill Medical PublishingDivision, 2002). Differential expression of each of the mRNA describedin Table 1 is diagnostic for schizophrenia.

Example 14

Analysis of Blood Samples from Individuals Having Schizophrenia asCompared with Blood Samples from Healthy Individuals Using MonoclonalAntibodies Directed to the Polypeptides Encoded by the Genes Describedin Table 1

This example demonstrates the use of the claimed invention to diagnoseschizophrenia by detecting differential gene expression in blood samplestaken from patients with schizophrenia as compared to blood samplestaken from healthy patients.

Blood samples are taken from patients who are clinically diagnosed withschizophrenia as defined herein. Gene expression profiles are thenanalyzed and compared to profiles from patients unaffected byschizophrenia. In each case, the diagnosis of schizophrenia iscorroborated by a skilled Board certified physician.

Total cellular protein from blood taken from each patient is firstisolated and labelled using the BD Clontech Protein Extraction andlabelling kit (Catalogue #K1848-1 or #631786). Briefly, the ExtractionProtocol consists of three main steps: mechanically disrupting thecells, solubilizing the cells, and centrifuging the extract. The processmay start with a cell pellet or frozen tissue and may use any method ofmechanical disruption—French press, sonication, mincing, or grinding.Once disrupted, the sample is solubilized by adding theExtraction/Labeling Buffer (1:20 w/v). Because the Buffer is formulatedfor labeling with N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS)-ester dyes (e.g. Cy3 andCyS dyes), it does not contain any protease inhibitors or reducingagents that would compete for reaction with the dye. After extraction,the sample is centrifuged to pellet insoluble material such aschromosomal DNA. The soluble extract is then labelled with Cy3 and Cy5Fluorescent Dyes (monofunctional NHS-esters). The labelled proteins arethen incubated with an array of monoclonal antibodies which are directedto full length polypeptides encoded by the genes described in Table 1.Detection of specific binding to the array is then measured by scanningwith a GMS Scanner 418 and processing of the experimental data withScanalyzer software (Michael Eisen, Stanford University), followed byGeneSpring software (Silicon Genetics, CA) analysis. Differentialexpression of the genes in blood samples from patients withschizophrenia as compared to healthy patients is determined bystatistical analysis using the Wilcox Mann Whitney rank sum test (GlantzSA. Primer of Biostatistics. 5th ed. New York, USA: McGraw-Hill MedicalPublishing Division, 2002). Differential expression of each of the genesdescribed in Table 1 is diagnostic for schizophrenia.

Example 15

Analysis of Blood Samples from Individuals Having Schizophrenia asCompared with blood samples from healthy individuals using MonoclonalAntibodies Directed to the Amino Terminal Region of Polypeptides Encodedby the 5′ Regions of the Genes Described in Table 1

This example demonstrates the use of the claimed invention to diagnoseschizophrenia by detecting differential gene expression in blood samplestaken from patients with schizophrenia as compared to blood samplestaken from healthy patients.

Blood samples are taken from patients who are clinically diagnosed withschizophrenia as defined herein. Gene expression profiles are thenanalyzed and compared to profiles from patients unaffected byschizophrenia. In each case, the diagnosis of schizophrenia iscorroborated by a skilled Board certified physician.

Total cellular protein from blood taken from each patient is firstisolated and labelled using the BD Clontech Protein Extraction andlabelling kit (Catalogue #K1848-1 or #631786). Briefly, the ExtractionProtocol consists of three main steps: mechanically disrupting thecells, solubilizing the cells, and centrifuging the extract The processmay start with a cell pellet or frozen tissue and may use any method ofmechanical disruption—French press, sonication, mincing, or grinding.Once disrupted, the sample is solubilized by adding theExtraction/Labeling Buffer (1:20 w/v). Because the Buffer is formulatedfor labeling with N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS)-ester dyes (e.g. Cy3 andCyS dyes), it does not contain any protease inhibitors or reducingagents that would compete for reaction with the dye. After extraction,the sample is centrifuged to pellet insoluble material such aschromosomal DNA. The soluble extract is then labelled with Cy3 and Cy5Fluorescent Dyes (monofunctional NHS-esters). The labelled proteins arethen incubated with an array of monoclonal antibodies which are directedto amino terminal regions of polypeptides encoded by the 5′ regions ofthe genes described in in Table 1. Detection of specific binding to thearray is then measured by scanning with a GMS Scanner 418 and processingof the experimental data with Scanalyzer software (Michael Eisen,Stanford University), followed by GeneSpring software (Silicon Genetics,CA) analysis. Differential expression of the 3 genes in blood samplesfrom patients with schizophrenia as compared to healthy patients isdetermined by statistical analysis using the Wilcox Mann Whitney ranksum test (Glantz SA. Primer of Biostatistics. 5th ed. New York, USA:McGraw-Hill Medical Publishing Division, 2002). Differential expressionof each of the genes described in Table 1 is diagnostic forschizophrenia.

Example 16

Analysis of Blood Samples from Individuals Having Schizophrenia asCompared with Blood Samples from Healthy Individuals Using MonoclonalAntibodies Directed to the Carboxy Terminal Region of PolypeptidesEncoded by the 3′ Regions of the Genes Described in Table 1.

This example demonstrates the use of the claimed invention to diagnoseschizophrenia by detecting differential gene expression in blood samplestaken from patients with schizophrenia as compared to blood samplestaken from healthy patients.

Blood samples are taken from patients who were clinically diagnosed withschizophrenia as defined herein. Gene expression profiles are thenanalyzed and compared to profiles from patients unaffected byschizophrenia. In each case, the diagnosis of schizophrenia iscorroborated by a skilled Board certified physician.

Total cellular protein from blood taken from each patient is firstisolated and labelled using the BD Clontech Protein Extraction andlabelling kit (Catalogue #K1 848-1 or #631786). Briefly, the ExtractionProtocol consists of three main steps: mechanically disrupting thecells, solubilizing the cells, and centrifuging the extract The processmay start with a cell pellet or frozen tissue and may use any method ofmechanical disruption—French press, sonication, mincing, or grinding.Once disrupted, the sample is solubilized by adding theExtraction/Labeling Buffer (1:20 w/v). Because the Buffer is formulatedfor labeling with N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS)-ester dyes (e.g. Cy3 andCyS dyes), it does not contain any protease inhibitors or reducingagents that would compete for reaction with the dye. After extraction,the sample is centrifuged to pellet insoluble material such aschromosomal DNA. The soluble extract is then labelled with Cy3 and Cy5Fluorescent Dyes (monofunctional NHS-esters). The labelled proteins arethen incubated with an array of monoclonal antibodies which are directedto the carboxy terminal regions of polypeptides encoded by the 3′regions of the genes described in in Table 1. Detection of specificbinding to the array is then measured by scanning with a GMS Scanner 418and processing of the experimental data with Scanalyzer software(Michael Eisen, Stanford University), followed by GeneSpring software(Silicon Genetics, CA) analysis. Differential expression of the genes inblood samples from patients with schizophrenia as compared to healthypatients is determined by statistical analysis using the Wilcox MannWhitney rank sum test (Glantz SA. Primer of Biostatistics. 5th ed. NewYork, USA: McGraw-Hill Medical Publishing Division, 2002). Differentialexpression of each of the genes described in in Table 1 is diagnosticfor schizophrenia.

Example 17

Analysis of Blood Samples from Individuals Having Schizophrenia asCompared with Blood Samples from Healthy Individuals Using AntibodiesDirected to the Internal Polypeptide Region of Polypeptides Encoded bythe Internal Coding Region of the Genes Described in Table 1.

This example demonstrates the use of the claimed invention to diagnoseschizophrenia by detecting differential gene expression in blood samplestaken from patients with schizophrenia as compared to blood samplestaken from healthy patients.

Blood samples are taken from patients who were clinically diagnosed withschizophrenia as defined herein. Gene expression profiles are thenanalyzed and compared to profiles from patients unaffected byschizophrenia. In each case, the diagnosis of schizophrenia iscorroborated by a skilled Board certified physician.

Total cellular protein from blood taken from each patient is firstisolated and labelled using the BD Clontech Protein Extraction andlabelling kit (Catalogue #K1848-1 or #631786). Briefly, the ExtractionProtocol consists of three main steps: mechanically disrupting thecells, solubilizing the cells, and centrifuging the extract. The processmay start with a cell pellet or frozen tissue and may use any method ofmechanical disruption—French press, sonication, mincing, or grinding.Once disrupted, the sample is solubilized by adding theExtraction/Labeling Buffer (1:20 w/v). Because the Buffer is formulatedfor labeling with N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS)-ester dyes (e.g. Cy3 andCyS dyes), it does not contain any protease inhibitors or reducingagents that would compete for reaction with the dye. After extraction,the sample is centrifuged to pellet insoluble material such aschromosomal DNA. The soluble extract is then labelled with Cy3 and Cy5Fluorescent Dyes (monofunctional NHS-esters). The labelled proteins arethen incubated with an array of monoclonal antibodies which are directedto internal polypeptide regions of polypeptides encoded by the internalcoding regions of the genes described in Table 1. Detection of specificbinding to the array is then measured by scanning with a GMS Scanner 418and processing of the experimental data with Scanalyzer software(Michael Eisen, Stanford University), followed by GeneSpring software(Silicon Genetics, CA) analysis. Differential expression of the genes inblood samples from patients with schizophrenia as compared to healthypatients is determined by statistical analysis using the Wilcox MannWhitney rank sum test (Glantz SA. Primer of Biostatistics. 5th ed. NewYork, USA: McGraw-Hill Medical Publishing Division, 2002). Differentialexpression of each of the genes described in Table 1 is diagnostic forschizophrenia.

Variations, modifications, and other implementations of what isdescribed herein will occur to those of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thereferences provided below are incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties. All patents, patent applications, and published referencescited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

While this invention has been particularly shown and described withreferences to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may bemade therein without departing from the scope of the inventionencompassed by the appended claims. Those skilled in the art willrecognise that other embodiments and configurations known in the artwould be within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

1. A kit for determining a likelihood that a test subject hasschizophrenia as opposed to being healthy, the kit containing, for eachgene of a set of genes consisting of ABOBEC3B, ADSS, ATM, CLC, CTBP1,CXCL1, DATF1 and S100A9, primers for amplifying DNA complementary to RNAencoded specifically by the gene, the primers having the nucleic acidsequences identified as SEQ ID NOs: 1-16.
 2. The kit of claim 1, whereinthe kit further contains a thermostable DNA polymerase.
 3. A set ofprimers consisting of, for each gene of a set of genes consisting ofABOBEC3B, ADSS, ATM, CLC, CTBP1, CXCL1, DATF1 and S100A9, primers foramplifying DNA complementary to RNA encoded specifically by the gene,wherein each of the primers hybridizes under standard stringentconditions to RNA encoded by the gene or to the complement thereof. 4.The set of claim 3, wherein each of the primers is complementary to RNAencoded by the gene or to the complement thereof.
 5. The set of claim 3,wherein the set consists of primers having the nucleic acid sequencesidentified as SEQ ID NOs: 1-16.
 6. The set of claim 3, wherein the setis packaged or provided with a thermostable DNA polymerase.